MARGAO
When the human rights body intervened after residents of Utorda in Salcete faced drinking water scarcity earlier this year, the PWD moved in to fix the issues plaguing the locality.
As the great Indian summer has set in, triggering a surge in demand for water and a month and half to go for the monsoons to set in, localized water issues coming to the fore in the countryside during this part of the year are not ruled out.
PWD, Water supply officials, however, place their bets heavily on Selaulim water pipeline, the lifeline of South Goa, as well as the villages across the river Zuari in Agassaim and Shiroda.
In fact, Selaulim water line pumps in around 280 MLD of water every day to meet the drinking water requirements of the people of the four talukas of Sanguem, Quepem, Salcete and Mormugao. Besides, drinking water is supplied to the village of Shiroda and Agassaim from the Selaulim water pipeline.
In addition, around 10MLD of raw water is being supplied by the Selaulim line to the Verna IDC and Zuari for industrial use and another 10MLD is treated at Verna by the PWD for drinking purpose.
A senior official of the PWD, Water supply informed: “It’s a fact there’s a surge in the demand for water during the two months of April and May, but the 280MLD of water supplied from Selaulim has been catering to the water requirements of consumers inhabiting these four talukas”, the official said.
He added: “Right now, we have been informed there is sufficient availability of water at the Selaulim dam, enough to meet the requirements of South Goa for two months”.
The official, however, did not rule out the possibility of an odd complaint of water shortage reported here and there due to localized issues. “Recently, the PWD came across water issues in Salcete, which is not at all connected to the water supply from the Selaulim network, but was related to the internal distribution. Inquiries later revealed that the decades old pipeline was found completely corroded, affecting the water supply. Such localized issues are not ruled out more so in the peak summer season”, the official said.
During his visit to Margao to launch the Viksit Bharat Viksit Goa rally on February 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the augmentation of water supply from the Selaulim plant by additional 100MLD. Once completed and commissioned, the project is expected to further augment water supply to the south Goa district and beyond, officials added.
