AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
All’s well that ends well. After the initial fireworks by the councillors the PWD executive engineer (water), V M Chavan unleashed a bounty on Mapxekars that practically floored the city fathers.
Chavan promised a new dedicated water pipeline from Assonora to Mapusa, unveiled a plan to replace all the old pumps at the treatment plant and shift the overhead electrical line at the plant to underground.
“A dedicated water pipeline (only) to Mapusa has been prepared at an estimated cost of around Rs 42 crore and is awaiting technical sanction. Once this line comes, it will give permanent solution to Mapusa’s water woes,” Chavan said.
The present water crisis erupted because two of the pumps in the 50 mld plant got burnt eliminating supply to entire Mapusa and Bardez.
The executive engineer had a solution to that too.
“We are moving a file to replace all the seven pumps “ four in the 30 mld plant and three in the 12 mld plant “ with new ones,” he said.
“The work to replace all the seven old pumps in the plant has already been tendered. The minister has assured that the finance department will sanction it within this week,” he added.
He said in the 50 mld plant, an additional pump has been tendered and it was decided to go for additional augmentation of 30 mld in the plant.
Chavan told the councillors that the existing overhead tank in Dattawadi was in bad state and the department has proposed a new 2000 cubic metres overhead tank. “Once that comes, the storage capacity will also be improved,” he said.
The Executive Engineer said the present electricity line was creating a lot
of problem to the Assonora treatment plant especially during the monsoon season.
“To take care of this problem, an underground cable is being laid by the electricity department at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. It will be commissioned within a month or so,” he said.
By the time the EE wrapped up his grandiose plans for Mapusa, there was a hush in the council hall.
In the end, Chavan managed to pacify the city fathers and won the day for the much discredited PWD.
After watching the EE’s spell on the councillors, a seasoned observer present at the proceedings
was prompted to say: “Taka xikon dhadla…tankam oxem, oxem sangh.” (He has been tutored what to say to the councillors).
