the goan I network
VASCO
A damaged water pipeline has caused havoc in nearby houses at Vaddem in Vasco.
According to sources, the main PWD water pipeline catering to the water supply to areas in Vaddem and Chicalim and surrounding areas was damaged and water began gushing with full pressure at night and the surrounding houses were also flooded.
Sources said residents in the area called the fire brigade and police to the site to help control the situation.
“We also called PWD officials who rushed to the site and got the situation under control after a few hours. The water was gushing at full pressure at night. The flowing water also got mixed with mud and several nearly houses were soon flooded,” said the source.
Speaking to reporters, Sandeep Chodankar, a resident of Vaddem for 35 years, said in the past, there have been times when the damaged pipeline had led to flooding in the houses and residents had to be evacuated from their homes by breaking the windows with the help of a fire brigade.
“Since the last 15 days, there is a leakage and we have been following up with the PWD. We have had bad experiences in the past because of such water leakages.
“Around 2 years ago, a water pipeline had burst in the night and water had entered in our houses to a height of a metre and there was chaos in the area”
“I suffered losses of around Rs 3 lakh and it took us over 15 days to remove the mud from our house. What’s worse and frightful, fire fighters had to evacuate us from windows after our main door was jammed by the mud outside and water had begun entering our houses and rising,” recalled Chodankar.
Insisting that the issue needed to be resolved once and for all, Chodankar added: “The PWD is only saying estimates are drawn for the last three years but nothing has happened till date. Our family and children are at risk because of this sudden water leakages from this main pipeline.”
When contacted, a PWD official on condition of anonymity informed that the ring on the main pipeline had slipped after pressure.
“The ring on the pipeline had slipped and there was a huge water spray generated as water was pumped in
full pressure. The ring is to be replaced as it may be
damaged.”
“We are in the process of fixing the issue and it will soon be resolved. Earlier, the contractors who are working on underground cable had damaged the pipeline so the residents feel that this is a regular issue. However, once a new ring at the joints is
put in place, the issue will be resolved,” said the PWD official.
