PANAJI
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has charged the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) with shying away from the responsibility to check incidents of sewage being carried in water tankers. The GPCC members have further cautioned to intensify their protest against the malpractice if the department fails to take action within two weeks.
GPCC President Amit Patkar along with other members of Congress on Tuesday submitted a Memorandum to the Director of FDA in this regard, wherein the office head stated that they are not aware of any such incidents.
“Incidents of water tankers carrying sewage were caught red-handed by people. But FDA Director Jyoti Sardessai is shying away from her responsibilities. It is surprising that she clearly admitted that her department is not aware of such incidents. This exposes that the BJP Government under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane are playing with the lives of the people,” Patkar lamented.
He claimed that the FDA ought to ensure that people get hygienic and clean potable water. Patkar also appealed to the citizens to remain alert and check the quality of water supplied to them.
Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar stated that PWD Engineers admitted that there is a shortage of 80 MLD water in Goa and that people are dependent on water from tankers.
“Unfortunately, the water tankers supply contaminated water and the FDA has no system in place to check the water quality. The BJP government is boasting of providing basic necessities. But it has failed to provide water, which is needed for every house. People are suffering due to the mismanagement of this government,” Panjikar added.
The party has given two weeks’ time to FDA to check on such practices and take action, failing which the leaders “will stage a protest and intensify agitation in the interest of public health.”
