MAPUSA
Stating that Bardez has been facing acute water scarcity for a long time, Ports Minister Michael Lobo said setting up of a water treatment plant in Siolim was the need of the hour.
He said there was no shortage of funds and public-oriented projects could be also financed by funding organisations such as Nabard.
“Due to the development of the coastal belt, the need for water has increased tremendously and we no longer can depend on one source of water supply from the Assonora water treatment plant. We need to set up a water treatment plant in coastal villages of Siolim or Anjuna,” Lobo said.
“Contrary to common perception, the government has enough funds. We can definitely set up such crucial projects,” he added.
The Ports Minister was recently addressing the media at the sidelines of a function to inaugurate the Garden of Eden at St Anthony’s Church in Vagator.
Siolim MLA Vinod Paliencar, Anjuna Sarpanch Savio Almeida and Vagator Parish Priest Fr Leonard Correia were also present.
Continuing, Lobo said land of around 4,000 sq mt is needed to establish a water treatment plant in Siolim and urged the comunidade of Assagao, Anjuna or Siolim to come forward and donate land for the public cause.
“The Tillari irrigation pipeline has already touched Siolim. We need to immediately identify space and set up the water treatment plant in Siolim or Anjuna,” he said.
He stressed that the government has sufficient money to complete such public-oriented projects.
“There is no question of not having money. Such projects should be completed in quick time,” he said.
He said the infrastructure development along the coastal belt has not kept pace with the growing construction of buildings, hotels and guest houses in the beach villages.
The ports minister said time has come to set up water treatment plants both in Calangute and Siolim constituencies on war footing.
“The foundation stone for the water treatment plant in Calangute has to be laid within next two months. This is a Rs 20 crore project. Land is already available. The government has already approved it and is presently awaiting expenditure sanction,” Lobo said.
