Team Herald
PERNEM: With Pernem already facing water shortage, the taluka residents on Thursday were left fuming following a pipeline burst at Virnoda. This is the second such pipeline burst since January 2021.
Locals were reeling under a declared three-day water shutdown from PWD for some repair work. Now, it’s a double whammy for them as the pipeline burst caused water wasted at Volpya, Virnoda. The locals alleged that the pipeline at Virnoda burst due to poor quality work. They claimed that their complaints to the PWD to replace the 40-year-old pipeline have fallen on deaf ears
The locals complained that they are already facing water shortage and accused the government of being reluctant in solving the issue. The taluka faces water shortage and irregular supply throughout the year, even during the monsoons.
Other worst affected areas are Morjim, Mandrem, Arambol, Keri, Palyem, Tuem and Corgao. Not only the coastal belt, other villages located in hilly areas receive irregular water supply and this problem aggravates during the summer when the wells run dry.
“The population in Pernem is increasing and there are so many development projects underway. The replacement of the existing pipeline as well as constructing a new water treatment plant is the need of the hour,” said a local resident.
The current water treatment plant supplies water to Pernem and Mandrem constituencies. There is only lone plant in Chandel that supplies 15 MLD to the whole of Pernem. Pernem PWD EE said the present water pipeline is in a good condition and that there are no plans of replacing it.
According to the locals, currently there is a requirement of at least 9 MLD, taking into consideration the increasing number of commercial complexes, hotels, restaurants, shacks, guesthouses on Mandrem beach belt and proposed development projects.
