the goan I network
VASCO
While Goa was enjoying Diwali eve watching Narkasura effigies being slayed, residents of Shantinagar were anxiously waiting near the taps hoping to receive water supply in view of the festival the next day.
Unfortunately, it was not to be. Angered residents spent a dry Diwali this year complaining that the area had been facing acute water shortages for a month now.
In the last two days, the residents received very minimal or no water at all and had to struggle for want of water supply.
As a result, residents have now threatened to agitate and gherao the PWD officials protesting scarcity of water and poor water supply to the area.
“It is sad that despite several complaints, the PWD is not bothered nor willing to find a solution. Despite it being Diwali, and with guests arriving, we have no water to even shower or cook. We have to depend on external sources of water like tankers but being Diwali, most of the tanker companies are shut,” said a resident Annu Tripathi.
“There are some people who stock water in open barrels but the health department along with labourers insist that the barrels be emptied because it could lead to dengue in the area and the water could turn into a probable breeding site. There is no sufficient pressure on the water supply for the water to be filled in the overhead tanks,” added Tripathi.
“We have less or no supply of water since the last three months and we have now decide to gherao the PWD officials if water supply is not restored. There are no wells in the area and we cannot afford a tanker regularly. We were atleast hoping to get a good supply of water for Diwali but there it was not to be,” said another resident Chitra Naik.
“It becomes difficult to do anything without water. We may have to finally get out together and demonstrate in front of the PWD office. Our children are working and no one has the time to go again and again to the PWD. The government must look into this immediately and help us,” said another resident Rabiya Shaikh.
