Team Herald
MARGAO: The government’s sudden scrapping of the scheme providing 16,000 litres of free water per household each month has intensified public anger across Goa.
The decision has provoked strong condemnation from the civil society and local leaders, who have denounced it as unjust, undemocratic, and detrimental to the welfare of the people.
Criticising the move, youth leader Prabhav Naik termed it “a betrayal of public trust”.
He questioned the government’s priorities, saying, “It is ironic that while the Central Government makes headlines talking about stopping water to Pakistan to send a message, the Goa government is punishing its own people by denying them access to something as essential as water. We Goans are not outsiders—we are citizens who deserve dignity, not denial.”
Naik pointed out that the scheme had offered crucial relief to thousands of families struggling with rising living costs. “This wasn’t a luxury; it was a basic necessity. Ending it without any public consultation or transparency shows complete disregard for the common citizen,” he said. “If the government can spend crore on extravagant events and publicity, surely it can afford to continue a scheme that directly benefits the people.”
Echoing these sentiments, social activist Anthony Dias said the move reflects misplaced priorities. “You can’t slash welfare for the poor and then host grand celebrations with taxpayers’ money.
This government seems more concerned with image-building than actual governance,” Dias
said.
Community organizer Prashant Shirodkar also weighed in, warning that such decisions alienate the very people the government is meant to serve. “Water is a right, not a privilege. Taking it away without warning or accountability is unacceptable.
It shows the administration is out of touch with ground realities,” he
stated.
All three leaders have demanded the immediate reinstatement of the scheme, along with a clear and transparent explanation from the government on why it was withdrawn. They also urged Goans across the State to voice their opposition.
“This is about more than water. It’s about broken promises, misplaced priorities, and the
everyday struggles of ordinary people. The
government cannot expect silence in return,” Shirodkar added.