Team Herald
MARGAO: Despite stringent directives from the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC), and repeated assurances from the government, residents of the Majorda-Utorda-Calata village panchayat continue to grapple with severe water shortage.
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The situation has grown dire as families are forced to wait for two to three days for a single drop of piped water, while struggling to find alternative sources in the meantime.
The issue has been exacerbated by the lack of funds needed to lay a new pipeline system that could resolve the long-drawn out water crisis. When questioned why they have delayed addressing this issue, the authorities claimed they do not have the financial resources to upgrade the pipes.
It is important to note that residents of Ward 9, which includes Loyola Ward, Francisco Costa Ward-Daktem Bhatt, and Vhoddlem Bhatt, have faced this issue for an extended period, with no regular access to water.
In the past, after relentless efforts to highlight the issue, the residents were compelled to approach the Human Rights Commission for justice and relief .
Speaking to O Heraldo, Sharlet Fernandes, a local panchayat member, expressed her frustration over the authorities’ lack of urgency in resolving the matter.
“I am continuously receiving calls from the residents. I don’t understand why the authorities are least bothered about the issue. It’s a genuine problem raised by the residents, and there should be no political agenda involved here,” she remarked.
Fernandes also accused the authorities of submitting false affidavits and action reports to the GHRC, downplaying the gravity of the water shortage by claiming it affects only five households, despite the petition being signed by nearly 96 residents.
The petition also highlighted that the villagers have been facing water shortages for several years, and the Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to take meaningful action to resolve the situation. Access to consistent, potable water is a basic necessity, and the villagers are determined to have their grievances addressed.
However, O Heraldo was unable to reach the concerned officials for comment on the matter.
