Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has committed to generate an additional 10 MLD water for Bardez by March-end against the backdrop of repeated complaints of severe water crisis.
Speaking to the media persons after chairing a meeting on water woes in the densely-populated coastal taluka, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant informed that he has instructed the Public Works Department to chalk out micro plan for seven constituencies in Bardez.
“I have given instructions to prepare the micro plan for the seven constituencies, which will be ready in eight days. By March 31, an additional of around 10 MLD water will be generated for Bardez of which 5 MLD will be through the plant at Porvorim, and the remaining through setting up of water filters and tube well,” the Chief Minister said.
“The work of 15 MLD plant is being expedited in Porvorim, constituency that also faces water problem to a certain extend,” Sawant added.
In the meeting also attended by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and the senior officers of PWD, the Chief Minister assured that the new plan will resolve water crisis faced by several commercial establishments and local households. Purification of another 10 MLD from the mining pits will further resolve the issue by April, the Chief Minister added.
Lobo, at the discussion with the Chief Minister and PWD, has calculated around 60 MLD water shortages in the entire Bardez Taluka. The Calangute MLA also corrected PWD’s over two decade old data that Calangute-Candolim’s requirement is just 10 MLD water.
“The PWD brings in the data of year 1995 wherein Calangute-Candolim’s requirement is 10 MLD. In the present scenario these coastal areas require at least 20 MLD water. The department should conduct a ground study about total commercial establishments operating across these places,” he said demanding that PWD should think ‘out of the box’ solution.
With these Calangute-Candolim-Baga already saturated, Lobo added that while PWD improving the existing infrastructure, the locals should not face problems.
As he pointed out to increasing commercialisation of Anjuna, Vagator, Chapora and Assagaon, Lobo said he foresees water woes similar to that in his constituency in the next 12-18 months. “A 15 MLD plant should also be built for Anjuna-Vagator-Chapora so that the commercial establishments and the residential areas do not face similar problems,” he suggested.
The Calangute MLA has also urged the government to fill up various posts of assistant engineers, junior engineers, plumbers and helpers so as to ensure public works are not affected.
