MARGAO
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who chaired the meeting, later said that while the breakdowns at Azad Nagar and Maruti Mandir on account of the sewerage work have been repaired, the PWD executive engineer has been directed to lodge an FIR against miscreants tampering with the valve near HDFC branch, Aquem.
Kamat said that the water problem should normalise within the next 10 days as the PWD is working to connect the JICA funded 600 dia pipeline to the main Selaulim water pipeline. “Once the JICA line is connected to the Selaulim line by April 5, the water shortage problem to the areas of Khareband, Pedda, Chinchal, Sirvodem and Calcondem should be over,” Kamat said.
The PWD top brass, which attended the meeting to review the water situation in the commercial capital, were told of the angry mood of the citizens for want of regular water supply. “Even our councillors are an agitated lot, who have threatened to stage a morcha to the PWD. We hope the PWD officials will take serious note of the situation and bring about improvement,” Kamat added.
Councillors owing allegiance to the Kamat camp in MMC will move around the vulnerable points which have faced water scarcity, to monitor the situation. Kamat has also issued directions to the PWD officials to empanel private water tankers given that the ageing tankers belonging to the department have failed to meet the water supply requirements in the city.
In the meantime, MMC councillor Ketan Kurtarkar and activist Shriram Raiturkar has dashed off a letter to the PWD executive engineer to improve supply in Pedda, Khareband, Sirvodem, Sarvodem, Chinchal, Calcondem and parts of Malbhat within 15 days or face citizens’ wrath.
