TEAM HERALD
BICHOLIM: Taps in Bicholim and surrounding areas have been running dry from Monday due to a technical fault at Padosem water treatment plant resulting into acute water shortage in Bicholim, and the situation could continue for two more days.
Though PWD authorities claim that alternative arrangements for supply of water have been made, it has been found that no provision of water has been made and as such people are either forced to buy water from the shops or rely upon those who have wells.
Areas like Sonar Peth, Bhalipeth, Kulan, near PWD Bicholim, Industrial Estate, Gaonkarwada, Mandrekarwada and some higher altitude areas are facing acute shortage of water.
This situation is the same in some villages including Pilgao, Lamgao, Shirgao and other panchayat areas. “We do not have water and even our wells are polluted because of mining and so it is very serious,” Pilgao panch Anil Naik told Herald.
When contacted PWD assistant engineer Prakash Surlakar said that since the problem in the water treatment plant has arisen all of a sudden the water shortage is likely to exist for another two days for repairing the technical fault in the plant.
In the evening the junior engineer Vinayak Malvankar said that earlier there were three pumps at the Padosem water treatment plant but one of the pumps has been sent for repairs and the Padosem plant was dependent upon just two pumps.
On Monday one of the two pumps broke down and the problem started. “We have taken permission to divert the supply water to Bicholim from other areas where there is still 24 hours of water supply,” Malvankar said, adding, “we are hopeful that Bicholim will receive water late in the evening at least for some hours.”
