MAPUSA
Frequent power disruptions at Assonora water treatment plant have left several areas in Bardez and Bicholim parched sending alarm bells among consumers and officials in PWD.
Within a fortnight, the PWD has released at least three notices on the local media warning the public of restricted water supply to Bardez and Bicholim talukas on account of electrical interruptions at the treatment plant.
Off late, the treatment plant has been experiencing rise in frequency of power interruptions and low voltage problems. Ageing infrastructure and overhead lines have also contributed to the rise in frequency of power interruptions at the plant, sources informed. “Things have normalised today, but on Wednesday there were three interruptions during the day and the period was almost for two to three hours,” an official at the treatment plant said.
Interestingly, the interruptions happen without a warning throwing the whole system of supplying water in disarray.
“The demand for water has gone up so much that even if there is shortage of just 2 MLD of water, several areas get affected and it takes a couple of days to stabilise the supply again,” the official said.
From faulty conductors to snapping of jumpers, power officials also remain on their toes as at times it’s difficult to locate faults.
PWD Superintendent Engineer (WD) Ulhas Kerkar admitted that frequency of power interruptions at the treatment plant has gone up recently.
He said if power was stopped for even an hour then regularizing the water pumping activity took time, which then has an effect on water supply. “They sometimes take shutdown for one of two hours for maintenance or some urgent repairs. But in the last few days it has become quite frequent,” Kerkar said.
The SE said setting up of a generator at the plant was not a viable option but the main overhead power line would soon be pushed underground.
“To tide over the electricity problem we have taken up the work to shift the overhead line to underground from the main which will be operationalized in the next 15 days. We expect much of the power hassles to be resolved then,” he said.
