Coastal Utorda has water water everywhere, but not many drops to drink

UTORDA: While on one hand the government boasts about 24 hours water supply, on the other hand, several residents of Utorda village are facing a tough time due to irregular water supply for the last several months. 

According to local panch member Sharlet Fernandes, the village panchayat has even petitioned the Chief Minister, besides PWD. But nothing has changed.

“The residents continue to struggle due to irregular water supply. The wards which are not getting regular water supply include Francisco Costa and Loyola ward and around Utorda village,” Fernandes said. 

However, officials of PWD claimed that the water pipeline needs to be replaced, but everybody is getting water. 

Speaking to reporters, Sharlet Fernandes said that people are facing distress over erratic water supply in ward number IX of Utorda, consisting of Francisco Costa ward and Loyola ward, which are the hard hit areas. 

“Even during the non summer months, we are facing water shortage due to low pressure. Now for the last couple of weeks, there has been no regular water supply and the taps have run dry, in spite of several complaints lodged with the PWD. There are houses which aren’t getting water for over four months,” she claimed. 

She further informed that another pipeline of higher diameter exists, running parallel in these above-mentioned wards from which the water is supplied to the mega housing projects, which never face water issues.

“It is only the houses of local villagers, which have to go through water shortage problems,” she said. 

Sharlet said that the issue of lack of the water supply is already known to the department officials for the past years and yet no concrete measure has been taken to address it. 

On the other hand, officials at PWD claimed that there is no water problem in the above-mentioned areas. 

“I have personally inspected the areas and people are getting good water supply. There are some houses having corroded pipelines and they have been asked to change the same. Water supply is irregular only at the time of damage to the pipeline or shut down of pumping at Selaulim,” said the official.