VALPOI
Natural water resources of Sonshi have dried up due to mining operations in the vicinity of the village. Now, the water supply department has sanctioned Rs 19 lakh for water supply pipeline to the village from the Dabose water treatment plant. Work has been already commissioned and is expected to be completed within a month.
But it took a while for the authorities to take note of the water scarcity faced by Sonshi villagers. Last year, the villagers had to protest against the mining operations and demand for clean water supply. Many of the villagers were booked for road blockade and sent to Colvale jail.
But their fight for water didn’t go in vain. The High Court directed the agencies concerned to fulfill the water needs of the villagers. Following the direction from the court, the water supply department floated the tender of Rs 19 lakh to facilitate water supply from the Dabose treatment plant.
“Work of laying the pipeline is already commissioned and more then 20 water tanks of 500 litres capacity each have been set up at various locations in the village,” Assistant Engineer Eknath Paste informed The Goan. Fifty percent of the work is completed.
Paste said that this work was supposed to be undertaken by utilising funds from the Goa Mineral Foundation, but due to some technical problems it could not be done.
Speaking to The Goan, a resident of the village Nilesh Gawade said that after a long struggle for water, finally the government has moved to provide this life-giving resource to the villagers.
