TEAM HERALD
CORTALIM: Cortalim and Sancoale villages are in the grip of a severe water crisis for almost a week, with residents forced to draw water from wells or hire water tankers for their requirements.
Stating that the water crisis as unprecedented, Agustinho Sequeira, a seamen, from Alma Bhat, Cortalim, said he was forced to hire a water tanker of 4,000 litres since the water supply was highly unpredictable.
“On Tuesday, I received water but for very short time and even my tank could not be filled. The water is released for short time and there is no water pressure,” Sequeira told Herald.
Another resident, Joaquim Silveira from Thana-Cortalim, also echoed similar sentiments. “If in monsoons we are facing such water crisis, then God only knows what lies in store during summer,” said Silveira. “If the rainfall is below normal, than there could be severe crisis in near future.”
Accusing authorities of depriving Cortalim residents of their quota of water supply, Silveira, who is civil contractor by profession, recalled that Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho had been responsible for laying a pipeline in Cortalim to release water to Agassaim via the Zuari River, thereby resulting in water crisis to Cortalim, during his tenure as Cortalim MLA.
Saying that injustice had been meted out to Cortalim, Cortalim Panch Raymond De Sa recalled that Cortalim was earlier receiving water from Selaulim while Agassiam was earlier being supplied water from Opa.
“After Agassaim started facing water problems, Mauvin who was enjoying a good rapport with then St Andre MLA Francisco Silveira was instrumental in laying a pipeline through Zuari River to supply water to Agassiam, which was opposed by residents of Cortalim,” De Sa said and added that it was from that time that Cortalim had been facing water crises.
Mauvin’s reaction could not be obtained as it was informed by his office that he was out of station.
In Sancoale, the situation is no better. According to a source from water supply department Baina, two water tanks, one at five-star and another near Blessed Joseph Vaz Sanctuary have been shut down. As a result, water cannot be stored in tanks and people get water only when the water is released.
“Earlier, the water used to get stored in the tanks and people used to get water for longer duration,” the source informed. The source also claimed that tenders were floated at Upas Nagar and new pipelines were laid, but had not been operational so far.
PWD Assistant Engineer Bhende however could not be contacted for his comments since his cell phone was continuously switched off.
Vishnu Wagh takes on government
TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: Claiming that Agassaim and Old Goa in his constituency are facing acute water shortage, St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh on Thursday blamed the State government for failing to take the required steps to improve water supply.
Addressing a news conference at Porvorim, Wagh further informed that during the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, the Selaulim pipeline, which supplies water to Agassaim, was damaged by a barge.
“However, due to code of conduct prevailing at the time, the State government could not take any action. This pipeline needs to be either replaced or repaired. A company has quoted Rs 2 crore to replace the pipeline, while another company quoted Rs 80 lakh for its repair,” he said.
“I had a meeting with the PWD minister and the engineers concerned on June 24 and advised them to supply water to Agassaim and Goa Velha from the Opa pipeline, besides making use of natural resources like lake and wells after testing the quality of water to augment supply or dig tube wells.”
Wagh said St Andre constituency has got historical importance, but it has remained backward due to neglect by the government machinery.
“Nothing has been done for the last 15 years to improve water supply in the constituency. The requirement of water supply has increased immensely over several years and to meet the increased demand new pipelines need to be laid and more overhead water tanks required to be constructed. I will raise this matter in the ensuing assembly session,” said Wagh.
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24×7 water supply to S Goa from 2015: Sudin
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavalikar on Thursday said that South Goa would receive 24×7 water supply from March 2015 with the commissioning of the new 100 MLD water treatment plant at the Selaulim Dam under the ambitious JICA project.
Dhavlikar further said the existing plan will be repaired and overhauled at an estimated cost of Rs 30-40 crore under JICA to meet the water requirements of the state.
“South Goa can expect to receive 24×7 water supply from March next year. The new water treatment plant will be commissioned in March 2015. There’s been some delay in laying the new water pipeline because of the soil conditions at the Quepem-Sanguem stretch,” he said.
Reacting to media reports on the functioning of the water pumps at the Selaulim water treatment plant, Dhavalikar said the Selaulim water treatment has a total of eight water pumps, of which one is awaiting repair by the original contractor. “All the water pumps, barring one, are in working condition, supplying 220 MLD of water to South Goa every day. There was disruption of water supply for a day and that too not on account of problem with the pumps, but due supply of power”, he added.
The PWD Minister said the Selaulim plant is being manned by an Executive Engineer, besides two Assistant Engineers and eight Junior Engineers, working in shifts. “We have an assistant chemist, three laboratory technicians, eight lab assistant, besides six lab technicians working round the clock on contract. They monitor both raw and treated water as per the requirement,” he added.
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Ashoka trees in Vasco falling
like nine-pins
Trees felling has been taking place for the past several years. The ageing Ashoka trees lining the Swatantra Path in Vasco have been uprooting with disturbing frequency. In the past every year at the onset of monsoon at least one or two of these trees have been falling down. It is pertinent to note that these Ashoka trees are more than eighty-years old and have probably over-lived their life-time. A close look at the trees that have uprooted will show that the roots of these trees have depleted considerably. It is by providence that so far there has been no harm to life and property. But one can never say what will happen in the future. One of these falling trees could pose danger to life and limb and even claim lives. Two of these Ashoka trees had uprooted last year. One was near the IOC terminus and the other near the Government Primary school. This year the pre-monsoon shower has already claimed another Ashoka tree situated near the Police Quarters. A bark of another Ashoka tree which is standing, is in a depleted condition and hence the tree is in imminent danger of coming crashing down. The authorities concerned should make a survey of these ageing trees and cut down the ones which are weak and replace them with new saplings of Ashoka trees.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
“Humaneness” towards animals
The animal shelter at Shantinagar, Vasco managed by People for Animals is recently in the news for all the wrong reasons. A few vested interests are creating a false propaganda of them polluting the neighbourhood and on this pretext want them to be shifted out. A visit to the place will no doubt clear all air. It’s true that there is garbage and seepage of dirty water onto the highway but if the source is traced back it leads to all the houses next to the shelter. With contributions and donations from animal lovers the resident vet Dr Sunil Kumar and his support staff do a commendable job in treating sick animals, vaccinating, sterilizing strays etc. Their charges range from Rs 100 to 700.
Johnson Stephen who is a renowned snake catcher along with office staff, a cook, animal catchers work in unison lending a hand in animal care at the shelter. Even with limited monetary resources the cleanliness of the shelter is maintained and adequate drainage into the soak pits is provided. The newspapers used to keep the animals warm is disposed of by way of MMC day-to-day pick up. Day-to-day civil repairs which are to be carried out by MMC are postponed citing lack of funds. My sincere appeal to the Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida that instead of falling prey to these false complaints and shifting out the shelter to Headland Sada, instead take the MMC to task over lack of maintenance repairs at the shelter. Animals may not be able to communicate their feelings to humans but let’s be ‘HUMANE’ to them.
Dr Praveen Varghese, Vasco
Gym in bad shape
I recently visited the fitness centre located in Ravindra Bhavan Margao, and I saw that there was no proper trainer, no proper equipments, etc. I found it disgusting and obviously got de-motivated.
People come to this fitness centre for body toning, etc and if they don’t find proper gym provided by the government then they have to look out for private gym.
looking at the gym everyone gets de-motivated, the equipments are either broken, no modern equipment like treadmill, cross trainer etc, it looks like as if I have entered a 17th century gym. May this lighten up the sports authorities and hope for change
Jovial Cota, Margao
Dug up roads at Dona Paula
The road leading to Vainguinim Valley, Dona Paula, has been dug up for laying of drainage pipes in Nov 2013 but have still not been tarred. The contractors have filled the holes with mud and rubble. With the rains the rubble has washed onto the road posing a threat to scooter and motorbike riders. I have the misfortune to have skidded a few times on my scooter. It is an accident waiting to happen. Even trucks have got stuck in the loose mud.
Why can’t the contractor tar the roads when they have finished laying the drainage and why can’t they finish tarring a particular stretch before digging another road? Who is accountable for the sorry state of our roads?
Yucca Pereira, Dona Paula
Provide retaining wall at Queula
The sloping road proceeding from the Two Pillars at Queula towards Kapileshwari in Ponda happens to be a most critical location. In case any vehicle loses control at this spot, it is likely to collapse into the adjoining trench. Over the years, the concerned authorities have not provided any railing or a retaining wall along the extreme side of this sloping road in terms of assuring safety to vehicular traffic in times of extreme emergency. Taking into consideration the risk and danger involved in present conditions, it would be appropriate for the concerned authorities to construct a retaining wall at this dangerous location so that vehicles are prevented from collapsing into the adjoining trench in times of any untoward incident. I hope the concerned authorities would initiate immediate positive action in this serious matter.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
RESPONSE TO CITIZEN HERALD
A ‘power’ less Vascoite
Praveen Varghese, Vasco
Vasco Electricity Department Executive
Engineer Gopinathan Pillai responds to Praveen Varghese of Vasco:
“During the first twenty days of the monsoon, there is a power failure and it is a natural phenomenon. During the summer season, the insulators expand and during the first shower they suddenly condense, due to which it develops pin size holes or fine cracks.
As the rainwater enters these fine holes and cracks, the power gets short circuited at the transformers. There is no machinery to check the cracks in the insulators and the linesmen have to manually check each and every insulator of that particular line by tapping it and once they get a hollow sound they come to know that the insulator is faulty and is being replaced.
Secondly, the lightening sometimes strikes the high tension cables, due to which the power supply gets disrupted. Planting of trees near electricity poles also leads to disruption of power and whenever the linesmen go to trim these trees, they are often abused and driven away by the owners.
If anyone wants to grow trees, they should do so at least five meters away from the electricity pole as it would avoid the branches coming in contact with the live wires of the electricity.
The government used to get 15 MV of power supply from the Reliance Power plant at Sancoale and ever since Reliance Power plant has stopped production there is shortage of power supply.
