Water plight in Tiswadi, Ponda continues

PONDA: The water crisis continued its hold on the residents of Tiswadi and Ponda including those in the capital city of Panjim compelling them to undergo hardship for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday with the PWD now revealing its “new” plan to restore the damaged pipelines at Curti-Khandepar.

According to the so called “new” plan, PWD officials have now decided to bend the pipes (in elbow shape) at the end and connect them to existing lines – one at height of around a metre and other at height of half metre from concrete base. The four pipes – two each of 900 dia and 750 dia have been sent to Marcaim and Curti garages for hydraulic press to bend them (in elbow shape) to connect to the existing pipeline. The work is progressing but the officials say by late Sunday night they hope get the pipelines connected.

With this option, the officials  said that they are trying their level best to release water to Panjim by Monday evening by restoring 750 mm dia pipeline first and 900 mm dia immediately thereafter.

However, some officials have raised their doubts on the new plan as they say the new option involves risk as it may cause water hammer in case the activity develops a fault. If the plan works out then Tiswadi locals would get water on Monday .

Though the concrete laying work was completed, however till late evening, there was no progress with regards to laying of the pipelines as assured by the officials earlier.  

However, it is expected that on Sunday late night, the work to lay pipeline would take shape as per “new” plan.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday morning inspected the pipeline restoration work at Curti and after taking stock of situation along with officials, he now informed the media persons that water supply would be restored by Tuesday. 

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had on Saturday assured that water supply would be restored on Monday. 

PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar is on record too that the restoration work of  the damaged pipelines of 900 dia and 700 mm dia supplying water to Tiswadi and parts of Ponda would be completed within four days.  However, it’s been four days the work is not yet complete.