PANJIM: Over a dozen families in St Inez are facing a severe water shortage and are now at the mercy of private tankers to cater to their basic needs.
The families, who are largely dependent on the water supplied by the Public Works Department (PWD), are forced to shell out Rs 500 to Rs 800 daily for purchasing water from private tankers.
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Sharing her plight, Shahnaz Sheikh, a St Inez resident, said, “We have been facing severe water crisis for the last two years and are forced to purchase water almost on daily basis from private water suppliers by spending Rs 800 per tanker. Even if we receive water from the PWD, then it is just a or bucket or two.The last two months have been really bad. During the Ramadan period, there was absolutely no water. We even forwarded a written complaint to the PWD office and till date nothing has happened and taps still run dry .”
“A plumber had come and some repair work was carried out but it was of no usel. Frequent calls made to the PWD office for a water tanker have been futile. We are thus forced to purchase water from private tankers for the last three months,” said Sajida Sheikh, another resident.
Khurshid Sheikh said, “For the last two months, we are facing the water issue. We have written to the PWD but it has failed to cater to our needs. We are thus forced to purchase water from private water tankers by paying Rs 800 to Rs 1,000.”
Sajida Shaikh, another resident said that earlier water supply was regular but after the smart city work started, it has been badly affected.
“Earlier water was supplied for one-and-a half hour twice a day but now it has stopped,” she said.
Local councillor Pramay Mayekar said that he has instructed the PWD to check the main water pipeline of the area because the pressure is less.
“The issue is with the main pipeline of the PWD. It is not problem of water shortage but of pressure. When a plumber had gone to the area, he found everything was okay. The PWD officials have said that they are working on it,” he said.
