Goa has recently been awarded the best-performing State among small states -- a feat achieved three years in a row. The parameters on which we won the rank are economy, infrastructure and tourism. Goa may stand tall for its imposing infrastructure, but behind the curtains lay Goa's story of failures and embarrassment. A tale of a state who's infrastructure can't guarantee the fundamental requirements of day-to-day water to its citizens, leave alone the promise of uninterrupted supply that's doing the rounds for nearly four decades.
The State currently is on the boil with protests and agitations over projects affecting the State. But in the din of sloganeering and beating of drums, voices crying out for potable water have drowned out. The fight against coal expansion, double-tracking and destruction of nature has been so overwhelming, that the sufferings of large sections of people deprived of water have got little or no attention. Parts of Bardez, Pernem, Canacona and Valpoi are left thirsting for water for long spells even as the government tom-toms about its achievement on Har Ghar Jal, boasting of being the first State to reach the milestone. What a phoney way to placate Prime Minister Narendra Modi when in reality people in Goa have to come to streets demanding their daily water. What is the use of providing taps when the government cannot guarantee water?
In Pernem, the blame is over faulty pumps at the Chandel Water Treatment Plant which are now sent for maintenance. PWD engineers have been targeted for not being able to manage the situation by diverting available water quota. The blame game continues between councillors, PWD and officials as hapless people run from pillar to post. Bardez, including Mapusa and Porvorim, have been facing the brunt of water cuts for the past few months with some residents getting water for alternate days while those houses at a higher altitude remaining cut off for as many as three days. It's a sorry picture of people pleading for water, and some standing with empty containers in the hope of tankers arriving.
Enough has been heard about outdated and weak pipelines, new pipelines caving in, malfunctioning of pumps, shortage of engineers, and the list goes on. Leave alone the promise of 24x7 water supply, at least the PWD must take the responsibility of providing a reasonable quota of water to residents on a daily basis. Dy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has appealed to the CM for replacement of pumps for water supply to Pernem, but why did the local legislator not act all this while?
The awards and laurels that come to Goa would mean nothing if the fundamental needs of people are not met. The development mantra which the government propagates from time to time pales out against such a backdrop. While ambitious plans are being drawn for the future, let's not forget our present.
