ASMITA POLJI
asmita@herald-goa.com
MANDREM: What hordes of party revellers to beaches of Morjim and Mandrem don’t realise is that the “paradise” is living hell for most locals who struggle for – yes- water, on this Goan sea side
Mandrem Constituency which covers major part of North Goa Coastal belt right from Keri, Arambol, Mandrem and Morjim faces water crunch throughout the year. The situation gets worse in the months of March, April and May when the wells go dry and people have to be dependent on PWD for water supply.
The coastal belt of Mandrem has witnessed major concretization in the last ten years with the number of hotels, resorts, guest houses and villas to cater the tourism industry and being a tourism destination not only during the tourism season but tourists visit this belt throughout the year.
Along with the coastal belt, the Mandrem constituency also has not so rural villages including the Tuem, Parsem, Agarwada-Chopdem, Paliem and part of Virnoda. It also has the Tuem industrial estate, community health centre, upcoming electronic cluster and other projects in the pipeline.
However, the water supplied by the PWD, does not even meet half of actual demand.
The water treatment plant is overloaded due to increasing commercial as well as residential constructions resulting in people in this constituency facing acute water shortage where the taps remain dry for days and sometimes even for months.
The existing water treatment plant at Pernem treats only 15 MLD of water, which is supplied to the whole of Pernem taluka when the actual demand of the Mandrem constituency itself is almost 30 MLD.
Another major issue that causes water scarcity is due to the years old pipeline. The existing water pipeline is more than 40 years old and being an old pipeline, it is not in good condition and faces leakage issues at several locations and since the coastal belt is at the tail point, by the time the water is released the water gets leaked and wasted.
Not only the coastal belt residents, but also those living in the interior parts including Tuem, Parse, Agarwada Chopdem, Virnoda and Palyem have to go water hunting for 360 days as the taps remain dry. The WRD have carried out restoration of a few wells, however most of them go dry by the onset of summer season.
“Irregular water has become an everyday issue. People are suffering as they have to sacrifice their sleep, waiting for water as there is no fixed timing. It’s high time the government resolves this issue on priority,” a local resident, Suresh Naik said.
“People are still struggling to get sufficient water supply, quality healthcare services, quality roads and Jobs. Concrete jungle is increasing, where orchards are being destroyed on a large scale. People are suffering due to lack of basic necessities,” another local, Rajesh Parab said.
Surekha Shetgaonkar, Sarpanch of Morjim Panchayat said, “Since Morjim is located at the tail, by the time the water is released and reaches the end point, the pressure becomes low. Sometimes, all of a sudden water supply stops for almost a fortnight. Morjim faces a huge water crisis.”
Sanjay Kole, a resident of Morjim said, “People are crying for water for water and other basic facilities. This is a long pending issue from the last several years. The basic infrastructure in the constituency is not in place, but illegal construction and development is going on in full swing,” Kole said.
“Irregular water supply issue is a nightmare for the people of Mandrem, especially in Ward No 1 Sawantwada, where even after having a water tank in the vicinity, people don’t get water. Instead of providing water to locals, water tankers are catering to private projects,” Adv Amit Sawant, Sarpanch of Mandrem said.
