Major parts of Salcete and Mormugao went dry as the new 100 MLD Selaulim pipeline burst close to the dam itself. Interestingly, the old 160 MLD pipeline is holding fort and hence some part of Salcete could heave a sigh of relief. Fluctuation in electricity supply leading to change in pressure is believed to be the cause of the pipeline rupture. But how long are Goans going to bear up with such inconsistent water supply?
While major states in the country are facing draught-like situation in the wake of declining groundwater, Goa continues to grapple with a problem of a different kind “ water distribution. The ‘Har Ghar Jal’ slogan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumes a different priority here. Rather, the immediate need for Goa is Har Nal Jal. Water scarcity is not an issue in the state for now, delivery is.
Pipeline rupture and water cuts due to erratic power supply are situations that Goans have been dealing with patiently for decades. Water fountains have been familiar sights all along. When will this change? While the centre embarks on its water mission, can the State government deliver its 24x7 water promise? Government has been talking about upgradation of infrastructure, mapping old pipelines and replacing them with new ones. The PWD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water management with the Portuguese Environment Ministry. There is a technical partnership for water supply, water management and sanitation. Yet, nothing much has changed on the ground. Leave aside the 24x7 water promise, Goans continue to struggle to get their daily water.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s recent assurance on rain water harvesting at the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi is a positive gesture. But the need of the hour is proper water distribution. There are huge water wastages that happen every time there is a breakdown. The recent pipeline burst took over 30 minutes to be fixed, which meant that water was wasted for half-an-hour. What happens to water conservation when there are so many water wastages?
While Goa’s priority should be setting right its porous water distribution network, it can’t lose sight of fast depleting ground water across the nation. The government has to be wary of this and must take steps to forestall a water crisis. Last year’s Niti Aayog report revealed 600 million people in India face stress due to water scarcity. About three-fourths of the households do not have drinking water. This year the report is even more serious. Twenty-one cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad are expected to run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people. Studies suggest that demand for portable water will override supply by 2030 which is why work on water conservation must begin in right earnest.
Sadly, the basics of life are still eluding the common man while the State chants a development mantra. We have a smart city coming up, but the government is yet to show smartness in spheres like water and power distribution. The ground situation continues to remain grim.
