PORVORIM: The Goa government will monitor the movement of water tankers using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral told the House on Wednesday.
He was responding to a zero-hour mention raised by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who referred to the incidents of water tankers transporting sewage, reported most recently by alert locals in Sancoale.
“There are 857 tankers with permission to transport water across Goa, but none of them have the NOCs from the Health Department.
There are numerous illegal tankers doing business, unchecked. The Central Ground Water Authority has mandated that water tankers should be tracked using GPS; they should also display their health NOCs as well as the WRD registration certificate. This is not being done,” said Sardesai, calling it a critical issue. He added that 248 tankers may be fitted with GPS trackers, but there are 857 in total, counting just the tankers with valid permits.
Cabral responded that the GPS technology will soon be implemented to monitor the movement of the tankers from the WRD filling stations along their predetermined routes, stating that the government will also monitor tankers transporting sewage.
