Wanting the government to come out with a long-term solution to the water woes, the MLAs from Bardez said the focus should be on distribution system which has so far been ignored.
They also said that until proper infrastructure was in place, water connection to high-rise buildings should be banned.
“The WRD and the PWD should coordinate and have a long term plan in place to conserve raw water and have a proper distribution plan,” said
Rohan Khaunte, Independent MLA from Porvorim.
According to him rainwater harvesting could be one of the long-term plans where water can be stored and used for future needs.
“Every year when water level in the dams goes up the water is released into the sea. And then we lament that raw water is inadequate,” he said.
The distribution of water also came up for sharp criticism as it was understood that most leakages happened during distribution.
“Irresponsible handling of water is leading to shortage of water. If water tankers make way to pumping stations to pick up water and supply it to three and five star hotels in Calangute then I have a problem. This is where leakages happen,” Khaunte said.
Seconding him was Goa Forward Party leader and Saligao MLA, Jayesh Salgaonkar.
“While Tivim and Aldona get 24 hours water supply we get supply every alternate day and that too for just two hours. The PWD officials have no control on distribution valves,” Salgaonkar lamented.
He said he requested the engineers to rationalise the supply so that people from every constituency get adequate water but to no avail.
According to Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza disruption of water supply mostly happened due to frequent power interruptions. “They need to first stabilise the electricity issue and also upgrade the treatment plants at Assonora,” D’Souza said.
He said Mapusa faced a peculiar problem due to its topography vis-Ã -vis the reservoir at the Assonora plant.
“Since Mapusa is at an elevated level, the city can get proper supply only if the water level at the Assonora reservoir reaches a certain level,” he said.
To overcome the problem, the Mapusa MLA said there was a proposal to construct a reservoir of 5,000 cubic meters capacity at the Peddem Sports Complex from where water could be pumped to various parts of the city.
According to the legislators water connection to individual homes cannot be stopped but felt that water connection to multi-level dwellings could be discouraged until proper infra was put in place.
“Water connection to commercial complexes and establishments should be stopped till the water infra is in place. Only individual houses and single dwelling units can be allowed water connections,” Khaunte said.
Expressing a similar view, Mapusa MLA said government should take a call on new commercial complexes.
“Ground water harvesting should be made mandatory for big commercial complexes and projects to encourage storage of water,” D’Souza said.
