ALFRED FERNANDES
SANGUEM: Rivona village in Sanguem taluka has been affected by scarcity of water for quite some time now and villagers have sought immediate action in this matter.
In this connection, Sarpanch of Rivona Village Panchayat Surya Naik along with other panchayat members have demanded an immediate solution over the drinking water scarcity problems faced by the villagers of Rivona.
Speaking to the local reporters, Naik, accompanied by panchayat members Suresh Kepelar, Sarvesh Velip, Priyanka Gaonkar and Clifa Fernandes highlighted the grave drinking water problems faced by the villagers residing in the village.
Naik claimed that though water from Selaulim Dam is supplied as far as the port town of Vasco, people residing barely 12 kilometres away and that too in the same constituency which houses the project are made to hunt for the sources of regular drinking water supply.
He said the whole of Rivona village was reeling under water scarcity problem and the people can be seen walking a couple of kilometres with utensils on their head to get drinking water in the remote areas of the village.
Naik informed that as of now drinking water is supplied in the village from the pumps installed in the local river which remains operational from 7 am to 7 pm. However, by the time, the office goers reach home, they are left with no water supply.
The sarpanch claimed that in February, the panchayat had given a representation to the authorities to solve the drinking water problem faced by the villagers by extending the Selaulim Water Supply pipeline to Rivona village. However, the authorities are yet to act in the matter, he said.
He also threatened to resort an agitation with fellow villagers by stopping the water supply from Selaulim Dam to South Goa if the government continues to take the drinking water supply problem faced by the villagers lightly.
Kepelar also urged for an immediate solution in the matter.
