TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Taking serious note of a Herald expose regarding the supply of water in tankers without stainless steel compartments in Vasco city, the consumer rights group GOACAN has blamed the government for failing to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water in the port town.
Acting on a request by GOACAN convenor Roland Martins to resolve the issue, Mormugao Deputy Collector Gaurish Shankwalkar convened a meeting of officials of PWD water department, Vasco RTO, Health department Vasco Traffic Cell, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Water Resource Department on Tuesday.
However, only the Vasco Traffic Cell PI Sudesh Narvekar, RTO official Anthony D’Sa, PWD (water department) Assistant Engineer Vishwambhar Bhende and Mormugao Mamlatdar L Desai attended the meeting. Officials from the Pollution Control Board and Water Resource Department (WRD) did not attend.
“Since none of the officials were updated by the WRD on the Ground Water Act and their responsibilities, a fresh meeting will be convened at the Mormugao Deputy Collector’s office with all stakeholders on August 19 at 3 pm,” Martins told Herald.
“GOACAN took serious note of the issue following a Herald report, stating that water was being supplied in tankers with rusted compartments. As per the Ground Water Act 2002 and Rule 2003, all tankers supplying water should have stainless steel tanks and the RTOs from respective areas should certify these tanks, before the WRD grants them the permission to transport water,” said Martins.
“Rules also stipulate that the health department should check the quality of water for any contamination, while the pollution control board should check the bore wells for any pollution.”
“When I wrote to the health department and the pollution control board to enquire if the WRD had informed them about their role as per the Act, both these government agencies replied in the negative.”
“Despite rules stating all tankers should have a stainless steel body and even though the WRD has sent notices to the PWD, it is surprising to note that the PWD water department has failed to implement the rule and till date, water is being supplied in Mild Steel tankers which give rise to rust formation and thereby contaminating the water.”
“Private tankers may give different excuses, but it is shocking that the PWD water department itself has not followed the rule,” said Martins.
