If the promise made by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar materializes, Margao could get 24x7 water supply later this month. Other areas will have to wait. It has been the endeavor of the government to provide round-the-clock supply of water, but there is a huge gap between promise and reality, on account of two reasons “ availability of water and infrastructure. The urban areas generally get more attention and are easier to serve than far flung villages. But with roughly a month of hot weather to go, parts of the state are beginning to wilt under the heat and shortage of water supply.
A few day back locals from Quepem met engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) to complain about shortages of water in interior villages of the taluka. In far-flung areas of Canacona residents have been literally scraping the bottom of wells to gain access to water. About 500 residents from Ponsuleamoll in Cotigao have experienced a nightmarish fortnight as wells in the area have dried up. Residents usually dig pits in river beds to harvest water, but this year has been worse than preceding ones thanks to the erratic monsoon. In Sukanne, Borim farmers are facing an acute shortage as the pond which provided water for coconut and arecanut plantations is beginning to dry up. The pond is situated in the upper reaches of the village and residents fear that if it dries up springs at the bottom of the hill will stop oozing water. In Pernem taluka, which is represented by two ministers, water is being supplied by tankers as taps have run dry.
The good news though is that there is enough of water at the Selaulim dam. According to engineers of the water resource department the reservoir has 32 million cubic meters of water which is enough to last through the summer. However, the situation at the Opa water works is worrisome as the water level in the Khandepar river has gone down to 1.70 meter which is 30 cm below the danger mark. Accordingly the gates of bandharas had to be opened to release water into the river. Opa supplies 138 MLD to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas. The overall situation is not yet grim, but shortages here and there are creating hardship for citizens.
In 2013 a study conducted by the department forecast that the demand of water in the State by 2025 would be 593 million litres per day and this target would be achieved by 2015 by augmenting water from seven regional water treatment plants. That being the case, why is there still a short supply of water in many areas?
Water is essential for human survival and shortage of the commodity results in stress. Although the government has endeavoured to supply water-stressed areas through tankers, this is clearly not being undertaken with regularity, Besides, many areas remain uncovered and that is why residents in Cotigao have to dig deeper to find water.
The State has a comprehensive water policy and has taken a huge loan from JICA to augment water supply and strengthen the sewerage network. But this work is, by and large, being undertaken in cities and towns and villages are left out. It is apparent, that far-flung villages will require local solutions to their water problems, but the government has to step in during times of stress. Like Karnataka, the State also needs to review how water from the Mhadei river can be harnessed and used during the summer months.
