SIOLIM: Siolim is currently reeling under a severe water crisis for the past six months. This has left the residents angry and frustrated. The villagers have been struggling to get their daily water supply. About 30 to 35 houses are facing this shortage of water supply. This dire situation has led the residents to question the authorities and their claims of development.
The Waddi-Siolim residents are forced to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking, due to the failure of the authorities to rectify the water shortage.
“Where is the development that was assured to be undertaken in our village? Water supply is a basic need for living,” a villager stated.
In a recent incident, a resident of Siolim vented his frustration, stating that when they approached the authorities to address the water shortage, they simply blamed the degraded pipeline connecting their area and the lack of water pressure. He further questioned the authorities how the new bungalows which have come up in the village have 24/7 water supply, while the villagers struggle to even have water to drink and cook? “It is simply unacceptable” the resident said.
To add insult to injury, the ward member Fermina Fernandes has been supplying water tankers, but only a few households have access to this facility due to the narrow roads, which disallows the water tankers from reaching their houses. The residents have urged the authorities to connect their area to the Caisua water pipeline, which will ensure quicker and more efficient solution to their water woes.
Meanwhile, people have informed that the existing water pipeline in Siolim is over 60 years old and has not been replaced. The outdated pipeline is unable to handle the growing population and their water needs. The new water pipeline that is currently being installed is not even for the village of Siolim but for the neighbouring villages of Caisua and Badem.
Frustrated and fed up with the authorities’ lack of action, the residents of Siolim have made it clear that they will not back down until this issue is addressed. A resident has stated that the people will take to the streets and stop the ongoing work.
