Dept engineers divided over private projects; some say permitted with sanction and full payment, others call it an exception
MAPUSA
The ongoing controversy over the construction of an anti-sea erosion wall at Anjuna linked to Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has brought the functioning of the Water Resources Department (WRD) under public scrutiny, with several current and former engineers of the department offering differing views on whether the WRD can legally take up private works.
The general consensus among engineers – both serving and retired – is that the WRD can undertake works for private parties, but only under specific conditions: the government must approve the proposal and the cost of the work must be fully borne by the private entity.
However, they also stressed that such instances are uncommon and handled as exceptions rather than routine practice.
A recently retired WRD engineer explained that any government department, including the WRD, can take up works for private organisations if directed by the government and if the concerned party pays the full cost and necessary departmental charges.
“On many occasions, projects are taken up on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis or even directly from private organisations or individuals, provided they deposit the required funds with the government,” the engineer said.
“However, it is not a general practice to take up private works. In some cases, projects of large institutions like the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) are approved by the government,” he added.
Another ex-senior WRD engineer said the department can undertake such projects if they fall within its purview.
“The department prepares the estimate and the private party must pay the entire cost of the work plus 15 per cent supervision charges,” he said.
A former WRD engineer also confirmed that such works for private individuals are “rarely taken up,” but can be executed as a special case with government approval.
A serving WRD engineer explained that if the proposed work falls within the department’s functional scope, the WRD can undertake it after drawing up an estimate and recommending an executing agency.
“The cost has to be fully paid by the private party,” he said, adding that “the concerned individual must also secure all mandatory permissions, including those under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.”
Another senior engineer pointed out that departmental work is generally limited to projects that benefit a larger community.
“For individual benefit, we normally don’t take up such works,” he clarified.
In the Anjuna case, MLA Delilah Lobo has maintained that all necessary approvals were obtained before the construction began.
“We have obtained permissions from the WRD for the anti-sea erosion wall. No tax payer’s money is involved. We have deposited the required amount with the government and the WRD is only executing the work,” she said.
Lobo also stated that CRZ clearance for the project had been secured.
The differing opinions within the WRD indicate that while the department has provisions to execute works for private entities, the practice remains tightly regulated and subject to explicit government sanction – a key point likely to feature prominently as the Anjuna controversy continues to unfold.
