Team Herald
PANJIM: It’s over a month, there appears to be no solution to their problem as the residents of Vodlem Bhat and Borbhat in Taleigao constituency continue to receive contaminated water with the Public Works Department (PWD) yet to plug the leakage point where the drinking water is getting mixed with ‘sewage’.
According to the residents, it’s been over a month that they have been receiving dirty water in their taps with no solution in sight. Though PWD has dug roads at various locations in these wards, the department’s efforts have not
materialised.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Libereta Fernandes, a resident of one of affected wards, said, “Our problem has not been solved as yet. We visited the PWD with bottles of the bad quality of water we receive. The PWD officials visited us and went by just stating that work is in progress. The water we receive is dirty and stinking.”
“It has been 10 days since we visited the PWD office and what we have been hearing from the officials is that the work is in progress. It’s over a month and the problem is yet to be resolved. I am managing by fetching water from my relative’s house but for me it is difficult as I am suffering from a spinal problem. We receive water between 6 am and 7 am but that’s not enough to meet the requirements of two families. Water supply should be at least for two hours,” she said.
Victor Cardinho, another resident, said, “The problem has not been solved yet. Though the PWD officials are trying to find out the exact location, in the process, they have dug up the road at several places. We do not know for sure where the drinking water is getting mixed with sewage.”
On condition of anonymity, a resident said, “The elected representatives should meet their constituents to understand what they are going through. We have no idea as to how many people have fallen sick. The residents are visiting hospitals having no clue as to what’s the reason for their sufferings. The roads dug up at various places are not barricaded and could prove fatal for motorists especially at night and during monsoon.”
However, when contacted a senior PWD official said, “The work of replacing the pipeline will start tomorrow. Preliminaries have been done today. Health officer has issued notices to some buildings for letting sewage into the open drains. Water supply to Borbhat and Vodlem Bhat has been stopped temporarily and tankers have been pressed into service to ensure supply to these areas.”