Team Herald
PONDA: In a major setback to the residents of Ponda and Tiswadi, the water supply to the Opa water treatment plant has been disrupted yet again. Just two days after a damaged pipeline at the Ganjem Usgao bandhara was repaired, another 1000 mm diametre pipeline supplying water to the OPA river has burst, causing the water level to dip to 2.7 m, a cause for concern during this dry weather.
Officials have assured that they have deployed eleven employees for immediate repair work on a war footing. However, locals are alleging that the pipeline has burst four times in recent months, and only temporary repair measures have been undertaken.
The Opa water treatment plant supplies around 140 MLD treated water to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas daily. The water supply is augmented by raw water from the Ganjem Usgao bandhara, which supplies approximately 105 MLD water daily, and 48 MLD water from the Salaulim dam.
Fortunately, the burst pipeline has not affected the water supply to Ponda and Tiswadi as the water from three more bandharas on the Opa river at Collem has been released to maintain the water level at the Opa plant for pumping, treatment, and supply.
The Opa water treatment plant has 24 bandharas from Collem to OPA Khandepar, and this is not the first time that the water supply has been disrupted due to a pipeline burst. The officials at OPA had hoped to increase the water level at the plant following the repair work two days ago, but this latest burst has dampened their efforts.
