CANACONA
INDIA bloc activists from Canacona confronted the WRD and PWD (water supply) officers for their failure to supply water despite completing the Gaunem Dam seven years ago, making it difficult for residents of Gaondongrim and Cotigao villages to get water for their daily needs.
WRD officials, however, washed off their hands and said the department completed the construction of Gaunem dam in 2017 itself, and since then, has been waiting for PWD (Water Supply) to make necessary provisions (pump-house, storage tanks, etc) to draw water from the dam, and to commission the dam for public use.
On the other hand, PWD (Water Supply) Officers expressed their helplessness to draw water from the dam as their efforts to obtain an NOC to set up a pump-house, storage tanks, water treatment plant/tank for the Gaunem dam had been unsuccessful.
“Almost thrice before, we have prepared estimates, but every time the files come back for want of a suitable place to set up the required plant/tank for the Gaunem dam,” said Canacona PWD (WS) Assistant Engineer Sanjay Thopil, while interacting with the INDIA block activists on Wednesday.
“Recently, our talks are underway with a prominent Devalaya to allocate a piece of land (approximately 4,000-5,000 sqm), and if everything goes well, we expect to complete the work and begin supplying water from the Gaunem dam to the people of Gaondongrim and Khotigao in two years time.”
Goa Forward Party Environment Cell Chairman Vikas Bhagat said it is unfortunate that the PWD could not set up a plant/tank to utilise water from the Gaunem dam, which was taken up for construction more than 12 years ago, and completed in 2017.
“The government must ensure that water reaches the needy and deserving people living in Gaondongrim and Cotigao villages.”
Ex-Shristhal Sarpanch Pandrugang (Datta) Gaonkar said it was sad to see a 75-80 year-old man forced to carry water utensils over his head from a well located some distance away.
Gaondongrim Panch Anand Gaonkar blamed Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar for his inability to obtain necessary NOCs to set up a pump house, tanks, laying of supply pipelines and other related measures.
“A tank is already built but we are told that seven people are not giving their NOCs, and the government has not done anything for the last 7 years, making people suffer.”
Vikas Bhagat said they are willing to approach the 7 landowners who are allegedly holding residents of Gaondongrim-Cotigao to ransom by denying NOCs to set up pump house, OH tanks, pipelines, etc.
Gaspar Coutinho said they would apprise newly elected South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes about the government’s inability to commission the Gaunem dam for seven-long years.
“We will request him to take up the matter with the central government to provide immediate water supply solutions in Gaondongrim and Cotigao,” said Coutinho.
