In a first for Goa, the government has decided to install ultra-filtration units in open and bore wells in Sattari. Villages there had to use unfiltered water from these wells despite a 15MLD water treatment plant servicing the rest of the taluka.
Almost 26 villages – Advoi, Kumthol, Bondir, Karanzol, and Charvane, among others – are provided with non-filtrated water. The government decided to install this cutting-edge technology after villagers made several complaints over the last few years about filthy water in the area. So far, 14 villages have been covered, while the rest will get their filtration units soon.
The Dabose water purification plant is the key factor in providing filtrated water to many villages in Sattari. Earlier, it had a capacity of 10MLD, but as the consumers increased, the previous government had improved the capacity to 15MLD.
When asked about the condition of water supply in Sattari, assistant engineer of water supply, Valpoi, Dattaram Shet replied that it was vastly better that it had been the last ten years. He also stated that special sub-plants were being installed in many areas, as it was difficult to provide water from the Dabose plant given Sattari’s non-level topography.
The department has constructed sub-plants in Sawarde, Guleli, and Nanoda-Nagargao at the cost of approximately Rs eight crore. Sawarde and Guleli are running their plants on a trial basis.
Currently, some villages in Sattari – Advoi, Vante Dongorwada, Pal-Dhangarwada – are provided with tanker water. Advoi and Vante will be granted a special scheme while Pal-Dhangarwada will be handled without one.
Thane village, which is almost nine kilometers away from Valpoi and has a population of almost ten thousand people, will be provided 24 hours water supply by installing a special pipeline from Dabose plant at a cost of Rs 10.50 crore. Work on this pipeline will commence soon, informed Dattaram.
Sattari’s residents welcomed the changes but stated that the taluka’s old pipes have to be replaced.
“Some of the pipes have rusted and polluted the water being carried to the consumers. The existing government should take the initiative to replace these pipelines. Otherwise it is very funny to supply ultra-fine water to this area,” said Prakash Gaonkar, ex-sarpanch of the Thane-Dongurle panchayat.
Opposition Leader and Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane was the key person to solve water problems in Sattati, felt Fati Gaonkar, a Zilla Parishad member from Keri.
