MAPUSA
For nearly two weeks, the residents of White Castle Building complex in Khorlim, Mapusa have been living without piped water after the Public Works Department (PWD) disconnected their supply due to an outstanding water bill of over Rs 2 lakh.
Despite numerous reminders sent to the builders, the bill remains unpaid, forcing the residents to rely on water tankers for their daily needs.
Sarika Vashisth, a flat owner in the building complex, has been vocal about the distress she and her fellow residents are experiencing.
Alongside 17 other flat owners, Vashisth feels harassed and humiliated by the builders, as their ongoing campaign against alleged illegal activities has seemingly resulted in this punitive measure.
“We have been raising our concerns with various authorities, hoping for some relief, but it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle,” Vashisth lamented.
The lack of drinking water is just the latest in a series of problems plaguing the building complex, exacerbated by the builders’ uncooperative behavior.
In a desperate plea for help, Vashisth has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also serves as the PWD Minister.
In her heartfelt letter, she appeals for the restoration of water to the 17 affected flats.
“For the past 10 days, we have been without water due to the misconduct of Link Realtors and Developers partners Anup Khobarekar, Sharan Shirodkar, and Winston Xavier,” Vashisth alleged in her letter.
She further alleged that the builders had kept the flat owners in the dark about the overdue bill despite constant reminders from the PWD.
The situation is further complicated by the installation of a commercial meter, which was initially meant for domestic use.
When it was discovered that some commercial units were using the same supply, the PWD changed the meter, leading to inflated bills for the residents. Despite several reminders, the PWD eventually disconnected the water supply, leaving the residents high and dry.
Without a formal society to address the issues, the residents are struggling to resolve the dispute.
In her letter to the Chief Minister, Vashisth highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that water is a basic human necessity.
“It is my humble request to resume the domestic connection for the 17 flat owners. My family and the other building occupants have been suffering without water for the past 10 days,” she implored.
This situation underscores the human cost of bureaucratic and legal entanglements, where ordinary citizens are left to suffer the consequences of unresolved disputes between larger entities.
The residents of White Castle Building complex are hoping that their plea will not fall on deaf ears, and that a compassionate intervention will restore their access to this vital resource.
