PONDA: People from Tiswadi including Panjim and the Goa Medical College did not get water for more than 24 hours after the main water pipeline ruptured at Curti Ponda Monday evening. This is the second incident of a major pipe rupture within one month.
Residents of Panjim, Taleigao, St Cruz and St Andre had to rely on tankers or stored water as PWD staff worked round-the-clock after power cuts leading to a hammer effect and rupturing a cast iron water pipe at 128 RL at Curti, midway to the Opa Treatment Plant.
The pumps on the banks of the Khandepar started pumping the water to Opa around 4.30 pm and water being released from Opa water works late Tuesday evening.
According to Nivruti Parsekar, assistant engineer at the water supply division in Daag-Ponda, the pipeline had ruptured in the forest area at Curti on Monday afternoon.
The pipeline ruptured after a power failure had led to the building up of extreme water pressure in the pipeline.
“PWD officials immediately commenced repair work at about 1.30 pm and replaced the 750 mm diameter and 5.5 diameter long pipe,” Parsekar said.
“The workers toiled the entire night and completed the work early Tuesday morning. Later, the workers put concrete blocks to support the high water pressure pipeline. The work was completed at about 1 pm and water supply was restored later Tuesday evening,” he said.
According to PWD sources, Patto, Mala, Market, Tonca and Altinho would get water late Tuesday night while the Goa Medical College and hospital would get piped water only after midnight.
Miramar, Atmaram Borkar Road, St Inez and other areas will get water only on Wednesday. However, Chimbel and Merces would get water first.
The pipe ruptured Monday afternoon and PWD workers had to replace the cast iron pipeline of 750mm diameter and 6m-length by 6 am. After that the concrete works began that ended at around 11.30 am.
PWD officials said that 50 trips were made by water tanker in Panjim and surrounding areas. A similar incident occurred on August 13, when a lead joint of the pipe was broken.
