Ponda Water Crisis: Residents Protest Against Severe Water Shortage Amid Summer Heat

Team Herald

PONDA: As the summer heat intensifies, residents from various parts of Ponda have been flocking to the PWD office in Daag, Ponda, to seek answers to the severe water scarcity they have been facing. While the PWD assistant engineer (AE) and his team have managed to resolve some issues, residents of Prabunagar, Curti, continue to struggle after enduring 12 days without adequate water supply. Ironically, Ponda houses two large water treatment plants, fed by the multiple rivers that flow through the taluka.

On March 13, frustrated locals, led by MGP leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar, visited the PWD office to demand immediate action. They complained of surviving on bottled and tanker water, which proved expensive and insufficient. Some residents were forced to use a pay toilet one kilometre away from their homes, at the Ponda Bus Stand. The residents warned of a rasta roko protest if the issue was not resolved.

PWD AE Kashinath Saraf had assured the group that the matter would be addressed soon. However, as the crisis persisted, residents filed a police complaint on March 16, alleging that the water shortage could be intentional and requesting an investigation.

On the same day, parched citizens approached Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his residence in Sankhali. Sawant assured them that the issue would be resolved by Monday and directed officials to restore the water supply

immediately.

Despite these assurances, their taps remain dry. On March 19, residents, this time led by BJP-backed councillor Vishwanath Dalvi, returned to the PWD office to meet AE Saraf.

Saraf informed them that over 80% of the supply issue had been resolved and assured them that full restoration would occur within a day or two. He added that his team was actively identifying faults in the supply line and, if necessary, would replace the pipeline if blockages or technical issues were detected.

The parched residents, when asked why they have been meeting politicians from various parties, emphasised that their concerns are not political. "We are not playing politics — we just want water," they stated, adding that political leaders, regardless of affiliation, are welcome to assist in resolving the issue.