PONDA: On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, Khandepar locals were inconvenienced as they faced water scarcity which forced them to go places to fetch water.
The locals blamed the PWD linesman for his negligence in filling the water storage tank on time which caused the water crisis on the eve of the festival.
The locals were forced to use rain, well and spring water.
A local Sandeep Parkar said, “They were receiving regularly water from 4 am onwards. However, the linesman failed to release the valve of pipeline which supplies water to the storage tank at Kerya-Khandepar. During the festival, as per tradition, all family members take bath before worshipping Lord Ganesh, but we were shocked to see the taps dry. Fortunately, the locals used the water from wells, springs and nullahs which was clean on account of rains.”
The officials claimed that the valve at the water tank got jammed.
However, a local Mangaldas Naik accused the officials of giving false excuses for failing in their duties to fill the water storage tank on time.
Sandeep Parkar said, “Henceforth, the PWD should take care that during festival especially Chaturthi there should be proper planning so that people are not forced to undergo hardship.”
