PERNEM
Deputy Chief Minister Babu Ajgaonkar convened a meeting with officials in Pernem to address grievances of people pertaining to water, electricity and roads.
Ajgaonkar had not been available at his Pernem office during the lockdown but he has now resumed public meetings since the beginning of the new year.
Locals highlighted the problem of water shortage especially in Pernem municipal area, Torsem and Mopa. The also brought to his notice that Harijan-waddo in Torsem gets only 2 hours of water and even then, the pressure is too low.
Ajgaonkar assured the people that water in tankers would be provided to the affected areas.
“If the water department does not have tankers available, hire private tankers. Local sarpanchas should take the initiative and I will bear the expenses,” said Ajgaonkar.
Locals requested officials not to supply water from the tank at Torsem to Mopa as well, insisting that the water should be supplied only to Torsem.
Ajgaonkar suggested digging of bore wells and wells in the villages where water scarcity is acute and cannot be solved immediately.
Responding to problems of power supply, Ajgaonkar directed electricity officials to provide him with data about power shortages.
"The electricity department should let me know about the new poles that are needed in Pernem and I will speak with Power Minister Nilesh Cabral,” he said.
Ajgaonkar also directed PWD (road) officials to finish hotmixing of roads within 15 days.
Among those present at the meeting included Korgao ZP member Ranganath Kalshavkar, Torsem ZP member Sima Khadpe, Dhargal ZP member Manohar Dhargalkar, Rama Sawal Desai, Chandel Sarpanch Santosh Malik, Torsem Sarpanch Ashok Sawal, former sarpanch Suryakant Toraskar, Prakash Kambli and engineers from the PWD (water and roads), irrigation and electricity departments.
