The repair works of two water tanks from Kudshe village have not been carried out properly by contractor, who just put a fresh coat of paint on the tanks, the villagers said.
The tender worth Rs 4.5 lakhs for repair works of both the water tanks was sanctioned in 2015. The tender had included the repairing works of cleaning both the water tanks, replacing of new windows, doors and roofs of control room, painting water tanks and putting tiles, etc. Of all these works, only painting work has been done by contractor and that too is not properly executed, say the villagers.
“We are not getting clean drinking water from these water tanks for many years now. The water tanks have not been cleaned since they were built. The dust and snakes are falling inside the water tanks. We have complained to the water supply department office but they have not taken any action,” say villagers.
Both water tanks had been built in Kudshe village 20 years ago. Both tanks have a capacity of 300 litres each. Water tankers have supplying water in Kudshe, Sonal, Savarde and Shir Savarde villages. The windows, doors, roofs of control room have been broken. The tanks’ ladders have been damaged and water supplying pipes have developed some leakages, and need urgent repairs, the villagers said.
“Our village water tanks are in bad condition. They need repairs fast and also we are not getting clean water for many years now. So we have demanded that the Government repair them fast,” says Pundalik Gaonkar, a villager.
“The repairing work of both the tanks had been done two years back. But it was not done properly by the contractor. He just painted the tanks from outside and has not done the main repair works. And after finishing the repair work by contractor, water supply department officials have not verified if the work was carried out according to the tender,” says another villager.
When contacted the Assistant Engineer of water supply department Valpoi, Eknath Paste, said, “Both tanks were repaired two years back. I was not around then and got posted to the village last year. On the demands of the villagers I checked up the condition of the tanks. I have sent the repair work file to the Government which is estimated to be Rs3.5 lakh.”
He added, “However, the repair work file has been returned back two times due to code of conduct and GST,” says Paste.
