PANJIM: The villagers of Sonar Khed ward of Assagao who had recently approached the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) against the State government and Public Works Department (PWD) for failing to provide sufficient and pure drinking water, have now said that PWD is trying to connect the borewell to the water purification plant.
An activist, who took up the matter for the villagers, has said that the PWD is now on damage control mode after the filing of the revision petition before the GHRC.
“After filing Rejoinder before the Commission, the PWD in order to cover up the said issue is now found doing damage control by connecting the borewell to the water purification plant. Since we have filed an application for the appointment of commissioner, the PWD has now woken up from its slumber after the rejoinder of the villagers of Sonar Khed who are facing problem firstly from the shortage of water supply and secondly of contaminated water provided to the people playing with the lives of the villagers,” said the activist.
The villagers have further alleged that the Health officials, who were initially not cooperating with the villagers to test the water samples, have till now not collected the water sample from the water purifier filter, which is now connected to the borewell.
Earlier this month, the villagers claimed they were alarmed after analyses of water samples collected from Sonar Khed showed contamination. A plea before GHRC alleged the ward is facing water issues for a decade and half. In the last three years, the applicant stated the villagers are badly affected due to irregular and insufficient water supply.
The PWD, however, informed the GHRC that the issue is resolved as a new borewell is commissioned in February 2021. The GHRC was then informed by the activist that the drinking water supplied through a new borewell constructed by PWD has led to the health problems.
