the goan I network
OLD GOA
With the government’s failure in restoring water supply even on the fifth day and the PWD’s failure to provide water tankers, locals of St Estevam along with panchayat members and the youth have started a community service to collect water in tanks and provide it to affected villagers.
Speaking to The Goan, St Estevam Deputy Sarpanch Chiara Gomes informed that apart from a single PWD water tanker over a period of five days, there has been no respite from the department.
“We have now started an initiative, whereby panchayat members along with the youth got together and bought two 1,000-litre water tanks. We fill the tanks with water from wells and then supply the same to villagers in vehicles,” Gomes informed.
“All the cost incurred is borne by the community involved in the initiative as there is no provision in the panchayat to use funds for such emergencies.
“Under the initiative, we are providing water to six wards in St Estevam, excluding Akhada, as the local panch there is supplying water tankers on his own,” she further stated while adding that in some areas, people are also using well water.
