Locals remain apprehensive about quality and safety
Residents of Talsai showing the turbid water which is being used for drinking purposes.
SANGUEM
Residents of Talsai, a remote village located in the hinterland of Sanguem taluka, have raised concerns over the availability of safe drinking water and other basic amenities in the locality. The issue recently came into the spotlight following reports appearing in a section of the local media highlighting the hardships faced by villagers residing in the settlement.
Talsai village forms part of the original settlements affected by the construction of the Salaulim Dam. The early settlers of the village were rehabilitated by the government and compensated with housing plots measuring 400 square metres and agricultural plots of 10,000 square metres in the rehabilitation colonies.
However, despite availing the rehabilitation benefits, a few families chose to remain in Talsai to tend to their agricultural lands and preserve the village's local deity.
MLA says claims
misleading
Responding to concerns raised, Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai stated that the portrayal of the situation was highly scripted and misleading.
He said that considering the families who continued to reside in Talsai, the government had provided the village with a motorable road and had also constructed a borewell to ensure access to potable water.
“A fresh tender has already been awarded for improvement of the village road and that the work will be undertaken soon,” said Phal Dessai.
Referring to reports highlighting a well in the village, the MLA claimed that the well shown in the media is not used by the villagers for drinking purposes and that residents have been drawing water from the borewell for their daily consumption.
The MLA also stated that a few years ago he had donated large water storage tanks to the villagers to facilitate regular water supply.
"The villagers seem to have forgotten all that has been done for them," he remarked.
Following the media reports, Wadem-Kurdi Sarpanch Chandan Unandkar visited Talsai and was seen demonstrating before media personnel that water drawn from the borewell was being consumed by villagers.
Unandkar alleged that certain vested interests were attempting to malign the image of the Sanguem MLA by circulating what he described as scripted stories in the run-up to the forthcoming assembly elections.
Locals dispute claims
of MLA, sarpanch
However, the aggrieved villagers disputed the claims made by the MLA and the Sarpanch.
They maintained that the water currently being consumed by them is not potable and urged the authorities to make arrangements for the supply of safe drinking water to the village. According to the villagers, the water drawn from the borewell has an oily texture and is virtually tasteless, raising concerns about its suitability for drinking purposes.
They claimed that despite repeatedly using the water out of necessity, they remain apprehensive about its quality and safety.
The residents also highlighted the difficulties faced by school-going children, who are reportedly required to walk nearly seven kilometres before they can board a bus to attend school. The villagers have demanded the introduction of a school bus service to the settlement.
A day after the media reports, South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes visited the village and assured the villagers of constructing a new well in the village if the existing well cannot be redone or cleaned.
With differing versions emerging from villagers and public representatives, residents now await intervention from authorities to assess the ground situation, test the quality of the water being supplied through the borewell and ensure the provision of safe drinking water and improved transport facilities for the remote village.
