PORVORIM
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and several residents squatted on the road outside the PWD office on Wednesday, to protest against the acute water shortage in Porvorim.
An angry Khaunte told PWD officials that several areas in Porvorim had been without water supply for many days and went on to list out several grievances regarding the water supply department.
He threatened that the protestors would lock the office of the PWD if their water issues were not resolved and insisted they would not move from the site unless they hear from either the PWD minister or the PWD chief engineer.
Khaunte and the agitators marched to the office of PWD Executive Engineer (water division) opposite the Porvorim PHC to protest against the water shortage. The crowd was such that social distancing went for a toss and a police force did little to enforce social distancing at the site. Superintendent of Police S Saxena, DySP Edwin Colaco and Police Inspector Ninad Deulkar were also present at the site.
Khaunte complained to PWD Executive Engineer Nitin Nevrekar and Assistant Engineer Dipak Borkar that residents of localities such as Pundalikar Nagar, Police Quarters, Dhonwado, Defence Colony, Britona, Socorro, had been facing acute water shortage for several days.
“Residents did not receive water during Diwali as well. On enquiry, it was revealed that there is a shortage of junior engineers, labourers and materials at the PWD office in Porvorim.”
“The executive engineer has to look after two divisions, 17 and 24, on account of which he has not been able to devote sufficient time for Porvorim.”
“We have also been informed that the department has received instructions from the State government not to supply water through water tankers from November 10,” said Khaunte.
Claiming that the transformer at Torda has not been functioning properly, Khaunte said the timing for water supply has been reduced, due to which residents do not receive sufficient water.
“The PWD took around three weeks to stop water leakages at Socorro despite repeated complaints. It has also been noticed that water is being diverted to Calangute by tankers,” said Khaunte.
The Porvorim MLA claimed that when Sudin Dhavlikar was the PWD minister, residents in Porvorim had never faced acute water shortage.
“We need to know the reason why water is not being supplied to residents of Porvorim these days,” said Khaunte, and warned that the agitators would not move from the place unless they receive a response from either the PWD Minister or PWD chief engineer.
Later, PWD Chief Engineer Ulhas Kerkar reached the site and tried to pacify the agitators. He requested MLA Khaunte for seven days to solve the water problem in Porvorim.
