UTORDA: Are these stories from a progressive, developed Goa?
Maria Martins and her husband who had suffered a leg fracture in an accident some years ago find it extremely difficult to wake up early in the morning and fill water until it is gone for the next day. “Water is released for two or three hours in the morning. The pressure is so low that we manage to get hardly five litres for consumption during the day” she said.
Lourdino Fernandes is building a new house. However, the old water shortage problem continues to remain in his new house too. “It’s been two decades since we do not have a proper water supply. Nowadays we are buying bottled water for our consumption as the schedule of tap water is extremely erratic” he said. Finding no solution to the problem, several households have resorted to digging borewells in their backyards. However, this water is not suitable for consumption. The problem of drinking water continues.
Shortage of tap water in the Majorda-Utorda-Calata areas has forced hundreds of villagers to buy potable drinking water for daily use. Villagers while in conversation with OHeraldo have said that the tap water pressure is so low that some households get 5 litres of water at dawn in five hours.
Agnelo D’cruz said that the issue of shortage of water has worsened in the last four years. When the villagers complained of the low pressure the Engineers asked the people to replace the pipelines. “Pressure of water has to be increased. There is a lot of tapping and diversion of water has resulted in the problem that is troubling over 200 households in the Majorda-Utorda-Calata areas” D’cruz said.
Local Panch Charlotte Fernandes who has taken up the issue of water shortage attributes this perennial problem to the successive failure of local self-government. “Before my term as a Panch, people have been complaining about the water shortage. However, there was no honest effort to resolve the problem” she said.
“Ground reality is that there is no water and the government should also realise that,” she said.
Un-tapping the misnomer that taps mean water
In this three part series Nal but no jal, Team Herald did old fashioned ground level reporting to inspect whether villages in Goa, and very much a part of the mainstream, had continuous running water. Reporters saw sad images of the elderly and the sick lining up to get some water from tankers.
The areas covered were Majorda-Utorda-Calata, Bogmalo, Molem Costi-Kalay and Sada-Vasco
In many places, people have stopped expecting round-the-clock water. They just want some water to come at some time. Is this
viksit Goa? Watch the video version of this series on YouTube and our other social media handles to see and hear what you will be reading in print.
With water, can our Goans get some care and compassion, please
Maria Martins and her husband who had suffered a leg fracture in an accident wake up early in the morning to fill water
Lourdino Fernandes says; “It’s been two decades since we do not have a proper water supply. Nowadays we are buying bottled water for our consumption as the schedule of tap water
When the villagers complained of the low pressure the Engineers asked the people to replace the pipelines
Chapora, Assagao & Anjuna residents stage ‘Ghagar Morcha’ against month-long water scarcity
ANJUNA: Residents from Chapora, Badem Bondir Waddo in Assagao, and Muddi Zor Waddo in Anjuna joined forces in a protest march, dubbed ‘Ghagar Morcha’, to the Public Works Department (PWD) office on Tuesday, demanding urgent action to resolve the enduring water scarcity plaguing the region for over a month.
Upon arrival at the PWD Office, the residents engaged with Assistant Engineer (AE) Randhir Astelkar and Junior Engineer (JE) Tanay Kandolkar, articulating their grievances and pressing for immediate remedies. AE Randhir Astelkar reassured the residents of prompt resolution and committed to implementing measures to reinstate water supply in the forthcoming days.
While cautiously hopeful about the pledges made, residents emphasised the paramount importance of timely and sustainable resolutions to the water supply crisis. They expressed their expectation that authorities would honour their commitments and alleviate the community’s hardships.
The protest spotlighted the pressing need for infrastructural enhancements and efficient management of essential services in the locality.
As residents await the realisation of promised actions, their unwavering resolve underscores the resilience and unity of the community in confronting challenges and advocating for their rights.
