Tests show no heavy metals; Minister vows breakthrough in 2–3 months
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai launch the vehicles purchased under the South Goa District Mineral Fund for the benefit of the people of the mining belt.
MARGAO
With testing of water samples from the mining pits showing encouraging results, the government is exploring the possibility of getting the technology how to use the water for drinking purpose and meet the State’s water requirements.
In fact, a smiling Drinking Water Department Minister Subhash Phal Dessai has claimed that the water samples collected from the mining pits have showed that the water quality is better than the Selaulim dam water. “We used to believe that the water in the mining pits is all loaded with heavy metals. Testing of water samples has revealed no heavy metals. Even chlorine was not required to improve the quality of the water from the pits,” he said.
Though the water from the mining pits has been found pure, Phal Dessai said the government is exploring the possibility of using the water in the mining pits with the right technology. “In the next 2-3 months, we will come up with good results in respect of water in the mining pits and Goa will not face any more water scarcity in the future,” he asserted.
Govt to plug leak, avoid thefts
Saying that water leakage and thefts is pegged around 40 per cent, the Drinking Water Department Minister has said the government will employ a two-pronged strategy to plug the leakage and thefts – by replacing 50-year-old water pipelines and introducing smart water meters.
He said it is indeed a matter of grave concern that 40 per cent of water is going waste without bringing any revenue to the government. To plug the leakage and avoid thefts, the Minister said replacement of the old water pipeline is being considered seriously, even though the project will require huge funds. In this respect, the Minister said the government is weighing various options to raise funds to take up the project. “We are weighing the option of taking help from the Central government to take up the project. Secondly, the government is exploring the possibility of availing loans to execute the line replacement project. We can recover the amount in the next 5-10 years,” Phal Dessai added.
He said Goa would be self-sufficient in drinking water even if the government manages to plug 20 per cent of the water leakage and thefts. “Our target would be to stop the 40 per cent leakage and thefts. But, even if we manage to bring down the leakage and thefts to 20 per cent, it would help Goa to become self-sufficient in drinking water,” he added.
Digital meters and pressure pumps
The Drinking Water Department Minister said the department is in the process of installing pressure pumps to ensure that water pressure is maintained everywhere. “There are complaints that water is supplied with adequate pressure in certain areas. The moment we try to increase the pressure, there’s a possibility of the pipe rupturing. Hence, we are seriously considering the possibility of installing pressure pumps wherever required,” he said, adding that the department is trying to introduce the best technology currently used in western countries to resolve the issues plaguing water supply in the State.
Govt seeks SC nod to use Permanent Mineral Fund for mining belt welfare
MARGAO: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the State government has requested the Supreme Court to permit the government to utilise the Permanent Mineral Fund for the benefit of the people inhabiting the mining areas.
Speaking after launching eight vehicles, including two hearse vans for deployment in the mining belt in South Goa, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that attempts made by the State government before the Supreme Court would soon bear fruit and grant relief to the people in the mining belt.
Launching the vehicles in the presence of Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai, South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS and district police chief, SP Tikam Singh Verma, IAS, the Chief Minister said the eight vehicles purchased under the district mineral fund at an estimated cost of Rs 1.20 crore would giving relief to the people in the mining belt. “Under the district mineral fund, school buses and now police vehicles and hearse vans have been given in the mining belt. I am happy that the entire process of procurement and launch has been completed within a short span of time,” he said.
Urging the authorities to make good use of the vehicles for the benefit of the mining belt inhabitants, the Chief Minister has promised to provide more vehicles in the next one year exclusively for the mining belt.
Complimenting South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus, who heads of the District Mineral Fund as its Chairperson, said the vehicles purchased for policing, transportation of bodies and garbage lifting will bring relief to the people in the mining belt in Dharbandora, Ponda, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona.
The District Collector said the vehicles procured under the District Mineral Fund will be placed before the police and the disaster management authority for the benefit of the intended beneficiaries.
She said tri-scooters have been provided to three differently abled persons hailing from the mining belt under the scheme through the Social Welfare Department.
