VALPOI
Speaking to The Goan, locals from Hivrem complained that they have been facing similar problems since the last few years.
"Last year, the issue became serious and authorities had rushed to this village to resolve the issue of water shortage, after our plight was highlighted in the media," said a local.
Kashinath Tanode said the government had sanctioned a Rs 9 crore water pipeline to resolve the problem permanently.
"Work to lay the pipeline is in progress and it will take about four months to comp
Speaking to The Goan, locals from Hivrem complained that they have been facing similar problems since the last few years.
"Last year, the issue became serious and authorities had rushed to this village to resolve the issue of water shortage, after our plight was highlighted in the media," said a local.
Kashinath Tanode said the government had sanctioned a Rs 9 crore water pipeline to resolve the problem permanently.
"Work to lay the pipeline is in progress and it will take about four months to comp
lete the project. However, some villages like Hivrem and Pal in Sattari taluka hav been hit by shortage of drinking water," said Tanode.
"Authorities have partially address this problem by supplying water in a tanker since the last few days, but this tanker is insufficient to meet the water requirements in the locality. We have frequently requested authorities to increase the number of tankers, but nothing has been done in this matter," he added.
According to another local, Punam Gaonkar, there is one well in the locality which could have been used to provide drinking water.
"However, authorities did not clean the well and as a result, some villagers have been forced to consume dirty water when no water is available," she said.
Unhappy locals said they would agitate outside the water department office in Valpoi to highlight their water problems.
Speaking to local reporters, local panch Satywan Gaonkar said he had already lodged a complaint regarding the water problem, but said there had been no positive response.
"If the authorities are least bothered about the situation, there is no option but to plan an agitation," Gaonkar said.
What has also angered locals is the fact that they have been getting high water bills, despite the water shortage.
"If our water taps are dry, how is it possible that we get high water bills," asked Parvati Majik.
When contacted, PWD Assistant Engineer Eknath Paste said the department had not received any complaint regarding water shortage from anyone so far.
"But since we are aware of their problems, a water tanker is being dispatched to the affected areas.
If the situation becomes worse, we will increase the number of trips to the area," said Paste.
"Authorities have partially address this problem by supplying water in a tanker since the last few days, but this tanker is insufficient to meet the water requirements in the locality. We have frequently requested authorities to increase the number of tankers, but nothing has been done in this matter," he added.
According to another local, Punam Gaonkar, there is one well in the locality which could have been used to provide drinking water.
"However, authorities did not clean the well and as a result, some villagers have been forced to consume dirty water when no water is available," she said.
Unhappy locals said they would agitate outside the water department office in Valpoi to highlight their water problems.
Speaking to local reporters, local panch Satywan Gaonkar said he had already lodged a complaint regarding the water problem, but said there had been no positive response.
"If the authorities are least bothered about the situation, there is no option but to plan an agitation," Gaonkar said.
What has also angered locals is the fact that they have been getting high water bills, despite the water shortage.
"If our water taps are dry, how is it possible that we get high water bills," asked Parvati Majik.
When contacted, PWD Assistant Engineer Eknath Paste said the department had not received any complaint regarding water shortage from anyone so far.
"But since we are aware of their problems, a water tanker is being dispatched to the affected areas.
If the situation becomes worse, we will increase the number of trips to the area," said Paste.
