The inauguration of the 7.74 km Manohar Parrikar Canacona bypass and the three bridges at Talpona, Galgibaga and Maxhem are developmental projects which the State will be proud of. It will facilitate smooth movement of traffic and will bring some respite to the government which has been drawing flak over poor road conditions across the State. But while the development juggernaut rolls on, here is another picture of stark contrast. The 100 MLD JICA water pipeline ruptures at Xelpem, Sanguem leaving people across Salcete and Mormugao high and dry.
While the big talk at the Centre is about ‘Jal’ and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s major push for water in the 2019 Union budget with a Jal Shakti Ministry, Goa has failed to take water issues seriously. Otherwise, how does one explain the fact that major parts of the State still face uncertainty over their daily water supply?
There is huge wastage of water every time there is a breakdown and this goes a long way to explain the government’s apathy. A fountain of water which left an area of around 200-metre radius waterlogged at the Xelpem site says it all. The question is whether Goa can afford such regular water wastages in the long run? The JICA pipeline is relatively new, but the frequency of break-downs is startling. This is the fifth breakdown of the pipeline in recent months.
The irregular power supply is not new to Goa and the PWD should have been better equipped to insulate the back-surge of water once electricity is restored and pumping operations resumed. Apparently, the pipelines are not in a position to withstand the reverse pressure and can rupture anytime. The PWD talks about using zero velocity valves as a remedial action, but why were such valves not used earlier? Are these valves the solution for breakdowns, or is it a temporary measure? All said and done, water-wastage will still happen till the time officials rush in to plug the leaks. What is required is a proper system to monitor and regulate water pressure even in times of power fluctuations.
Panaji faced a water crisis during monsoon when a pipeline was damaged due to a retaining wall collapse at Curti Khandepar on August 15. The people of the capital city experienced one of their worst crises and were left without water for a week. Bardez is consistently reeling under a water crisis, more specifically Mapusa which continues to struggle for its daily water. Water cuts have become major irritants affecting the daily lives of thousands of people across the State. Government’s talks on water conversation appear hollow when we see criminal wastage of water that happens due to pipeline issues. Crores of rupees have been spent on the new JICA pipeline and the people of Goa expect a lasting solution to this everlasting problem, not quick fixes.
