Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas making a point in the House on Thursday.
MAPUSA
The Opposition on Thursday strongly criticised the government in the Assembly over persistent water shortages across Goa. They questioned how large commercial and mega construction projects continue to receive approvals while several areas struggle to get even basic water supply.
Opposition legislators accused the government of ignoring ageing infrastructure and failing to fix long-standing problems in the water supply network. They warned that the situation reflects deeper failures in governance.
Opening the debate, AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said the government’s own reply in the Assembly exposed the fragile state of Goa’s water supply system. “The reply shows how the department is functioning and makes it clear that Goa’s water supply network is under severe infrastructure stress. This is not a problem of water scarcity but a structural crisis caused by institutional failure, lack of investment and absence of accountability,” Viegas said.
He pointed out that ageing pipelines are one of the main reasons for repeated disruptions. In his Benaulim constituency, several pipelines have not been replaced for nearly four decades, leading to frequent bursts and interruptions in supply.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also criticised the government for failing to upgrade old infrastructure while allowing large construction projects to move ahead.
Alemao said several overhead water tanks in the State are more than 60 years old and are in poor condition.
“This government talks about Har Ghar Jal, but in many places there is neither jal nor nal,” he said, taking a dig at the Centre’s flagship scheme.
Questioning the government’s priorities, Alemao asked whether restrictions would be imposed on mega projects until basic infrastructure such as water supply is strengthened.
RGP MLA Viresh Borkar called for the installation of flow meters to monitor water losses across the network. He said large quantities of water are wasted due to leakages and poor monitoring.
Borkar added that he has often had to personally intervene to resolve water supply issues in his constituency.
Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira raised concerns over falling water reserves. He informed the House that the Amthane dam in Assonora currently holds only about 30 per cent of its storage capacity and sought clarification on measures to ensure Bardez does not face shortages.
Responding to the criticism, Drinking Water Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said the government gives priority to domestic consumers while granting water connections.
“The first priority is always domestic single dwelling houses. Larger commercial projects are cleared only after engineers carry out proper audits, and in many cases the project promoters are asked to make their own arrangements,” the minister said.
Phal Dessai informed the House that the State’s current water demand is estimated at 695 MLD against a supply of 633 MLD, leaving a shortfall of 62 MLD.
To bridge the gap, he said the government has taken up 11 new water treatment plant projects, nine of which are under way. These projects are expected to generate an additional 325 MLD of treated water by the end of the year.
