the goan I network
MARGAO
Just imagine a situation when a mere nine plumbers look after the repairs and maintenance of a whopping 25482 water connections in some parts of Salcete.
Indeed, while the PWD in the past was accused of unnecessary political recruitment, shortage of plumbers and labourers has hit the very functioning of the water
supply department in Salcete taluka.
This results in delays in attending to pipeline breakdowns, release of new connections and repairs of existing connections.
A glance at the statistics of the Sub-division II of Works Division IX goes to show the extent of shortage of plumbers and labourers that has adversely affected the
day-to-day functioning of the department.
Having jurisdiction over the three constituencies of Margao, Fatorda and Benaulim with the water connections pegged at around 25482 connections, Sub division II is literally working with its back to the wall.
Of the plumbers available with the Sub Division, four plumbers are looking after the Benaulim constituency, while the remaining five attend to problems in the twin constituencies of Margao and Fatorda.
A senior PWD official said that the shortage of plumbers and labourers in the water supply department in Salcete has been there for a long time now. “Sub Div II is in dire need of minimum 11 plumbers
if not more to tide over the manpower shortage,” the official added.
The plumber shortage is attributed to the retirement, transfers or the untimely death of the staff, with the department dilly dallying on the question of recruiting additional staff.
Recently, three senior and experienced plumbers have retired, but the vacancies have not been filled up till date.
An official in the know said the shortage of plumbers has resulted in the delay in releasing new connections, leave alone attending to breakdowns in the division.
What’s interesting to note is the fact that the division has been found wanting in promptly attending to pipeline breakdowns and water leakages in the area of
operation.
“We can ill afford to immediately dispatch a team of plumbers and labourers to plug leakages for want of staff. There’s an urgent need to beef-up the staff strengthen before things go from bad to worse,” remarked another official.
Incidentally, The Goan understands that there’s been no dearth of correspondence made by the Salcete water supply division to the PWD higher ups, but in vain as the ground situation remains unchanged till date.
