PORVORIM
A number of residents of Gopalnagar and Abhinav Housing Complex in Porvorim on Wednesday assembled at the overhead water tank at Gopalnagar to oppose the laying of a parallel water pipeline from the tank to a slum at Halliwada.
Penha de Franca Sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar and ward panch member Shalu Gupta were also present at the site.
Speaking to media persons on behalf of the residents, social worker Anurag Gupta said the overhead water tank with a capacity of 650 cubic meters caters to the water requirements of residents in Gopalnagar, Abhinav Housing Complex and nearby areas.
“These residents do not get sufficient water even at present and in such a situation, the PWD has decided to lay a separate pipeline from the water tank at Gopalnagar to a slum at Halliwada, where more than 1,000 people reside.”
“If water is released from this overhead water tank to the slum area, residents of Gopalnagar and Abhinav Housing Complex will face acute water shortage. Hence, residents objected to the contractor deputed by PWD to lay a parallel water pipeline to the slum area. The PWD should construct a separate overhead water tank at Halliwada, if required,” said Gupta.
Penha de Franca Sarpanch Swanil Chodankar admitted that residents of Gopalnagar and adjoining areas have been facing acute water shortage, especially during summer.
“Under the circumstances, if the parallel water pipeline is laid to the slum area at Halliwada, which is located on the slope, the water supply problem will get worse.”
“The Panchayat will persuade the PWD to drop the idea of laying a separate water pipeline from the water tank at Gopalnagar and will, instead, propose to the government to construct a separate overhead water tank for Halliwada, so that the slum and nearby areas will also benefit,” said Chodankar.
