Severe water crisis plagues parts of Siolim, locals demand quick action
MAPUSA
Parts of Siolim have been grappling with a severe water shortage, leaving them frustrated and disillusioned with the promises of development made by the authorities.
Two weeks back, residents of Bamonvaddo, Siolim complained about irregular water supply. Now, at least 30 households in the Waddi, Siolim area are bearing the brunt of the distressing situation, struggling to secure their daily water supply.
Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, the residents find themselves resorting to purchasing packaged water for drinking and cooking, highlighting the failure of the system to rectify the water shortage.
Questions loom over the efficacy of development initiatives promised to the village, with residents slamming the authorities for failing to provide basic needs to the villagers.
“We are getting water in a trickle for just half an hour daily which is enough to fill just a couple of buckets. For the last six months we have been facing this ordeal. How long are we going to tolerate this,” a local lamented.
The villagers said that a local panchayat member tried to alleviate the crisis by supplying water tankers but the narrow roads in the area hinder the tankers from reaching many households, rendering the assistance inadequate.
“We are trying to resolve the problem of the residents in the area. The local MLA is seized of the matter and has assured to find a way out to resolve the problem,” said Fermina Fernandes, the panchayat ward member of the area.
The residents have urged the authorities to connect their area to the Caisua water pipeline for a swifter and more efficient resolution to their woes.
The villagers have informed that the existing water pipeline in Siolim is over 60 years old and has not been replaced, leading to its inability to meet the growing population's demands.
Furthermore, the new water pipeline under installation is not intended for Siolim but for neighboring villages of Badem and Caisua.
In response to the authorities' inaction, frustrated residents have vowed to escalate their protests until their demands are met.
Threats of street demonstrations and halting ongoing pipeline work loom large as the villagers refuse to relent until a sustainable solution to the water crisis is implemented.
The plight of Siolim villagers serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for infrastructure development and efficient governance to address the fundamental needs of the populace.
