SANGUEM: Water supply to Mormugao taluka and areas in and around Verna Industrial Estate was severely affected for four hours following the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) financed water pipeline burst at Xelpem, Sanguem on Monday morning.
The pipeline reportedly burst at around 10 am and the water supply from the Selaulim Water Treatment Plant was stopped immediately.
Executive Engineer S B Gaonkar said that after getting the information about the pipeline burst, the officials immediately rushed to the site and commenced with the repair operations.
The operations were underway till late evening and were expected to complete by 9 pm, said Gaonkar and added that the water supply to the affected areas will be restored by midnight.
Gaonkar claimed the pipeline at Xelpem had a welding on top and the same gave way due to pressure.
The officials informed that the pipeline burst on account of frequent power fluctuations in the area since the last many days and this caused the pipeline to burst.
The incidents of 100 MLD JICA water pipeline bursts have been recurring on regular basis. In the last six to eight months, this is the third incident. The earlier two incidents occurred at Nagvem when the water supply to Mormugao and Verna areas was affected.
Gaonkar informed that the pipeline burst will have no effect on the water supply to Margao and Salcete areas as the affected pipeline has no tapping up to Margao and leads directly to Verna Industrial Estate from where the water is supplied to Mormugao taluka. The water is supplied to South Goa via the main water pipeline from Selaulim water treatment plant, informed Gaonkar.
