PANAJI
Following several complaints of water shortage issues in Bardez, Bicholim and Sattari, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant proposed several measures to resolve the water woes in these areas including tap water from the iron ore mining pits and purification and pumping of water from lakes.
The Chief Minister said that nearly 10 MLD of water for the area would be pumped in from the mining areas, which are currently without any activities owing to closure of the industry since 2018.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday chaired a crucial meeting on water crisis in the State with the Public Works Department engineers at the Secretariat, Porvorim.
During the meeting, Sawant had detailed discussions with all the departmental engineers in regards to the water supply demand vis-Ã -vis production and the shortfall in all the 40 Assembly constituencies and after detailed deliberations it was proposed to prepare Water Management Plan in two phases to ensure that the shortfall of water demand is met with completion of the 1st phase by 19 December 2021.
Further, as finalized during the meeting wherever immediate measures are required and works of which are at various stages of execution to improve the water supply shall be completed and commissioned by 31 March 2021.
Speaking to media persons post the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the State’s water shortage is 76.33 MLD in Bardez.
“I have asked the officials to prepare a water management plan for Bardez by March 31, an additional 10 MLD water will be generated for Bardez of which 5 MLD will be through the plant at Porvorim, and the remaining through setting up of water filters and tube well in Siolim and Saligao. Hence, the problem of Bardez would be sorted soon,” he said.
“In Sattari there is a shortage of 7 MLD and we have decided purification of another 10 MLD from the mining pits which will resolve the issue by April. Mining pits are filled with water. We need to tap this water for consumption,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that a new water plant will be inaugurated in Bicholim by July which would sort the issue in that area.
The meeting was attended by Calangute MLA and Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo who pointed out that increasing commercialization of coastal belts of Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, has resulted into major water crisis.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister while addressing the BJP Minority Morcha State Executive Committee meeting at the party head office in Panaji said directions have been issued to the District Collectors to identify suitable sites for Kabrastan in major cities.
During the meeting, Hyder Sha was appointed as the President of Minority Morcha and Asif Ali state general secretary.
