MARGAO: The State government should first focus on proper water supply management, as thousands of Goans are still struggling to get drinking water. Instead of free water what the government must do is save the water being wasted due to bursts of pipelines on regular basis, stated citizens, on Monday.
Speaking to Herald many citizens expressed unhappiness instead of joy over Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s announcement of 16,000 litres of free water for each household from September.
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The citizens alleged that Public Works Department Minister Deepak Pauskar has failed to resolving the demand of people residing in Ambeudak, Sanvordem to start the water supply, and this announcement by the government is just to fool the people in wake of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Santano Rodrigues of Curtorim is of the opinion that the first thing this government needs to do is proper management of water supply.
“Proper management and uninterrupted water supply itself can resolve all the issues pertaining to water. What is the benefit of a free water scheme when there is no proper water supply,” he questioned.
He said that there are many areas in the State where the old pipeline is yet to be replaced.
“We are witnessing water pipelines bursting on daily basis in one or the other places. Thousands of litres of water are being wasted and the government has failed in resolving this issue for the last many years. Instead of announcing free water scheme, the government must focus on resolving all the issues related to water supply,” he said.
It is shocking that citizens of Ambeudak, Sanvordem are yet to get water supplied through the pipelines laid in recent times, as the announcement of the Chief Minister, holds no importance to the these concerned citizens.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar is the MLA of Ambeudok, Sanvordem. However, even he has failed in resolving the water issue like others.
“Are our households included in the list of Chief Minister’s announcements? First and foremost it was the duty of the government to provide us with the water supply. The concerned department has failed in resolving our issue for the last many years, so why such type of assurances,” Gaurisha Naik questioned.
Many citizens feel that the government announcement with regard to free water is just a gimmick keeping an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections.
“I don’t think that the government and Chief Minister are serious on the issue about the free water. Actually, the PWD and the government have miserably failed in resolving the water-related issues in the State. People are seen struggling to get a bucket of water to drink, in the areas of Quepem. Citizens have to wait in a queue for hours in order to fill their utensils,” said Damacino Fernandes of Benaulim.
According to Shivanand Naik, Navelim people never demanded free water from the government.
