TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The State requires a total of 275 MLD per day, even as it pumps around 500 MLD per day. However, many areas still do not get water due to more than 40% loss of water during delivery and other losses. Also 37 villages are not getting potable (filtered) water even after 50 years of self-rule, according to PWD Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar who informed in the last Assembly session.
The PWD minister had said that they needed two big laboratories and even though since 2007 funds under a Central government scheme were available, the government had not applied for them then, promising to do it “now”.
According to the PWD minister, the State faces a 40% loss of water which they were trying to bring down to 20%.
However, this year too till a month back, there was major water crisis in almost all parts of the State.
However, for the past month, the water supply has indeed become better.
“The water supply in Cortalim village has been improving from what it was a month ago, although sometimes the water is muddy. The water supply improved only after it was reported in Herald last month (June) on the severe water crisis in our village,” says Joaquim Silveira, a Civil Contractor from Thana-Cortalim.
However many still complain that there is a problem.
“We are in the midst of a full-blown rainy season, and yet we haven’t received PWD’s supplied tap water since the last eight days, except today (Saturday), where again, the water flowed through the supply pipes but failed to reach our meters,” says Sumitra Mahale, a housewife from Welwadda-Poinguinim.
Dr Martin D’Costa from Vasco too grumbles saying, “We have been facing a lot of hardship due to water shortage in Vasco. We are collecting the rainwater for daily use and borrow water from neighbours and other places for consumption. Life has become very tough due to the water shortage. Hope the government will solve the water problem very soon.”
But the water crisis does not end there. Due to indiscriminate boring of wells, many wells in the coastal belt are in danger of drying up. Many have already turned saline as they are within 5 kms of the sea. A majority of wells in the State have become contaminated.
In a public interest litigation, the High Court had ordered that the policy on digging of bore wells, tube wells and controlling the activities of water tankers be formulated by the end of 30 April, 2014 and be implemented from 1 May, 2014.
A draft policy has already been framed by the State Government.
“We make it clear that the policy shall be formulated in any case by the end of 30.04.2014 and shall be implemented from 01.05.2014,” says the order by Justice F M Reis, and Justice B R Gavai in the order dated November 26 which also says: “We further make it clear that the Chief Engineer shall give an opportunity to the petitioner of being heard and hear his suggestions to the policy.”
The petitioner had approached this Court regarding the uncontrolled extraction of ground water and non formulation of policy by the State regarding the digging of bore wells, tube wells, etc, and non controlling the activities of the water tankers.
However, though Goa has become a scheduled area and all wells have to be registered and wells used for commercial purposes metered, the coastal areas during summer months have seen indiscriminate usage of well water for commercial purposes despite litigations and complaints.
quoteroom
“We certainly need the attention of someone who can improve water supply in the State, and particularly in Canacona taluka. Despite having all the resources, the PWD department is not in a position to show any improvement in the day-to-day water supply. In spite of being in mid-monsoon, how can one justify the PWD’s decision to continue with the stupid arrangement of providing water supply for alternate days and that too, for barely one hour or so?
The water supplied is also very erratic and many times, it is full of mud/dirt. The low pressure also restricts water from reaching the overhead tanks in most parts of the taluka.”
Tippu Pagi, Panch, Agonda
The water supply in Cortalim village has been improving from what it was one month ago, although sometimes the water is muddy. The water supply improved only after it was reported in Herald later last month (June) on the severe water crisis in our village. But now it is monsoon time and we will have to wait and see what is in store for us in summer. That will be the real test for this government.”
Joaquina Silveira,
Civil Contractor, Thana-Cortalim
“We are in the midst of a full-blown rainy season, and yet we haven’t received PWD’s supplied tap water since the last eight days, except today (Saturday), where again, the water flowed through the supply pipes but failed reach our meters. Ironically, water was seen going to waste through a broken supply pipe in our locality throughout the day, but no one turned up to repair the ruptured pipeline till late evening.”
Sumitra Mahale,
Housewife, Poinguinim
“We have been facing a lot of hardship due to water shortage in Vasco. We are collecting the rainwater for daily use and borrow water from neighbours and other places for consumption. Life has become very tough due to the water shortage. Hope the government will solve the water problem very soon.”
Dr Martin D’Costa,
Vasco
