Villagers claim that PWD pipeline in Benaulim has been ruptured for almost two months and the flow continues
the goan I network
MARGAO
But, welcome to Benaulim, where citizens’ plea to the government authorities to plug a water leakage from a damaged pipeline in the village has gone abegging, not just for week or two, but over the last month and half. And, take note that the PWD officials have not repaired the pipeline for want of bare minimum spares required to plug the leakage.
In fact, Benaulim residents are aghast at the very attitude of the PWD officials over the huge delay in plugging the water leakage, making them wonder whether government slogans to conserve water are meant only for the citizens and not for the authorities.
A visit to Tolleaband, Benaulim has revealed the worst scenario and confirmed the fears raised by local residents. Water was found gushing out of a damaged PWD pipeline into the nearby pond, not only causing water wastage, but leaving the farmers high and dry as they cannot harvest their crop because of the water accumulation in the pond.
If Jose Camilo Pereira, president of Benaulim Civic and Social Forum and activist Roque Fernandes are to be believed, water from the damaged line has been gushing out into the pond close to two months now.
They pointed out that their repeated plea to the PWD officials to repair the pipeline and plug the leakage have all fallen on deaf ears.
Says Jose Camilo Pereira: “We have personally told the PWD officials about the water wastage, but repairs have not been forthcoming on lame excuses. When we inquired with the PWD officials, they say that spares are all exhausted and hence cannot undertake the work”.
Pereira pointed out that another water leakage was plugged by the PWD officials a little further down in the village with a rubber tube, demanding to know why basic spares have run out of stock in the PWD department.
Roque Fernandes wanted to know whether the slogans to conserve water are meant only for the ordinary citizens, as evident by the dilly dallying by the PWD in plugging a month and half old leakage.
