VASCO
Several residents from Cortalim and Quelossim on Wednesday confronted PWD water supply officials over the erratic water supply for several months.
Agitated residents also met the PWD Assistant Engineer Vishwambar Bhende and explained to him that several houses in the area had suddenly stopped receiving water supply and there was no pressure whenever the houses received water.
They demanded an explanation for the water shortage and constant rupture in water pipelines and asked Bhende to resolve the issues immediately.
Later speaking to reporters, Cortalim Panch Anton Joao Fernandes said the recent water shortage had raised doubts among people who suspected that water meant for Cortalim was being diverted to other areas.
"For the last many years, we never faced any issue but in the last three months, there is no proper water supply and no pressure at all. We also installed water tanks but there is no relief.”
“The pipelines are constantly breaking and every time the pipe gets ruptured, there is no water for at least three days. We made several complaints but there is no action. The engineer has now assured to have a site inspection and resolve our issue," said Fernandes.
Quelossim Comnunidade President Pobres Lucas said PWD had not been acting on their complaints.
“We had been assured that new pipelines would be installed but that has not happened. We have such a huge water tank in Cortalim constituency and yet we are suffering from a shortage of water, which indicates that the water meant for Cortalim is being diverted elsewhere," said Lucas.
When contacted, PWD Assistant Engineer Vishwambar Bhende said he had recently been deputed to Cortalim area and heard the grievances of the people.
"The work to lay a new 90-metre water pipeline at the Cortalim road stretch is in progress. Work to test the line is presently going on and it will be completed within a month.”
“After this, additional water can be supplied to these areas and people won’t have water shortage problems. I have agreed to visit the affected areas where there is low water pressure and other problems. We will have to check the problem and I will inspect the area on Friday along with our PWD officials," said Bhende.
