Residents of Ganjem in Usgao have raised serious concerns over an ongoing water crisis persisting for the past 15 days, coupled with the supply of muddy water throughout the monsoon season. Women in the locality have urged the Public Works Department (PWD) to expedite work on the 25 MLD Ganjem Treatment Plant and begin supplying them with clean, treated water.
Locals said the water supply has been irregular for over two weeks. While some residents receive water for only a few hours, others are facing severe shortages. Moreover, the water being supplied is reportedly only filtered once, remains muddy, and emits a bad odour. Those residing in elevated areas are particularly affected.
“Until the Ganjem plant is commissioned, we should be supplied with regular water,” said one local woman, adding that tanker water provided to them is insufficient. Many residents are forced to use well water for cooking. When they enquired about the water crisis, PWD engineers reportedly informed them of a breakdown in the pumping system.
The women also pointed out that although a barrage exists at Ganjem, supplying raw water to the OPA Treatment Plant, the water from OPA is routed to Guleli in Sattari before it reaches their village. “Since the 25 MLD plant is being built in Ganjem itself, we demand direct access to treated water, not through Guleli-Valpoi,” they said. “If a direct supply line is not provided to us, we will be forced to launch an agitation.”
Their primary demand is that treated water be made available to them at the earliest from the treatment plant currently under construction in their village.
The Ganjem Treatment Plant is expected to be commissioned within three months.
It may be recalled that the issue of water scarcity in Usgao had also reached the court last year. The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently disposed of a petition filed by a Usgao resident concerning the shortage of water, following an assurance from the Water Resources Department (WRD) that every effort was being made to ensure adequate supply. The WRD informed the court that the 25 MLD treatment plant was in an advanced stage of completion and would take at least three more months to be fully operational, which would significantly enhance water supply to the region.