MAPUSA
Stressing that there were multiple issues at the Assonora water treatment plant (WTP), Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza called for a holistic approach to resolve the problem of drinking water supply in Mapusa and Bardez.D’Souza on Wednesday also said there was urgent need to upgrade the filtration plant at Assonora.
“There is no major upgrade in the drinking water system in the State. The filtration plant at Assonora WTP has not been upgraded from the time it was set up and needs a major revamp,” D’Souza said.
Water supply remained disrupted since Sunday affecting Mapusa in a major way and other areas in Bardez as the Assonora treatment plant was saddled with power-related issues.
The increase in turbidity level also affected the filtration process at the plant which led to delay in releasing water to consumers.
The Mapusa MLA informed that disruption of water supply has now become an annual affair in monsoons which needs to be tackled once and for all.
“Basically, there are two issues here “ supply of raw water and the filtration process. We all know that turbidity level rises in rains so the plant should be equipped to deal with the problem,” he said.
“We cannot continuously blame turbidity and the problem of power supply for stopping water supply to the public. What are the engineers there for then? We need to recruit the right kind of people who understand the process and technicality of running a treatment plant,” he added.
However, D’Souza expressed full confidence in PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral to resolve this problem at the Assonora WTP.
“The PWD minister is the only one who will put things in place. He has done an excellent job in fixing road infrastructure, particularly the potholes and I have faith in him to find a way out on the water-related issue at Assonora,” he said.
He disclosed that constructing a new reservoir in Mapusa was already in pipeline but opined that a dedicated pipeline was not the solution.
“If there is no water coming from the plant then having a dedicated pipeline is of no use,” he said.
He further said after commissioning of the treatment plant in Porvorim, the situation is much better in Mapusa.
Water supply yet to stabilise
MAPUSA: While PWD water was released to several areas on Wednesday morning for a few hours, some parts of Mapusa did not get supply indicating that the supply was yet to stabilise.
A source in the PWD informed that there was yet another power cut for more than an hour in the afternoon disrupting water pumping operation at the Assonora water treatment plant.
“We have been working hard with our backs to the wall but some technical issues are not in our hands. We are hoping the entire issue will be stabilised by Thursday,” the PWD official said.
