PANAJI
Speaking to mediapersons, Nilesh Joshi, president, Kadamba Plateau Residents' Action Committee (KPRAC), said, "We don't have tap water supply at Kadamba Plateau. Due to this, we have to rely on tankers for water. We are not sure of the quality of this water. Moreover, we end up spending Rs 2,500-3,000 per month per family on getting water from tankers, which is a lot."
He continued, "Therefore, we have decided to organise a Jal Satyagraha on December 19. On that day, adult residents of Kadamba Plateau will not eat food. Only kids will eat food."
The members of KPRAC had also met Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar on May 12. The representatives of KPRAC informed that Parrikar had assured them of tap water supply to Kadamba Plateau by October 2017. October has gone by, but the assurance has remained unfulfilled.
One part of Kadamba Plateau comes under Cumbarjua constituency (represented by BJP MLA Pandurang Madkaikar) and another part comes under Santa Cruz constituency (represented by Congress MLA Antonio Fernandes).
Residents of Kadamba Plateau, who wished remaining anonymous, said, "Both Madkaikar and Fernandes have assured us of water supply, but they have hardly done anything to solve the problem."
Joshi further said, "The Public-Works-Department (PWD) had laid a water pipeline for Kadamba Plateau. But, it was ruptured due to highway work."
What is particularly painful for these residents is the fact that they have all the valid panchayat & statutory licenses for occupying the constructed houses but despite that the government has not provided them with water supply.
Apart from lack of water, there are other issues as well. Joshi continued, "There is no transport system for residents of Kadamba Plateau. The government may have built the highway, but the internal roads are not proper. There is poor network for mobile-phones."
When asked why the residents have not approached the courts for government's apathy, Joshi replied, "We want to solve this issue in a peaceful manner. That is the reason, we have decided to organise a non-violent protest on December 19."
