Margao
With many villages across the state facing water scarcity, South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes has blamed the government for its lack of vision in meeting the water requirements of citizens.
He particularly directed his criticism at Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar, stating that while the Minister claims there is sufficient water in urban areas, villages in his own Shiroda constituency are grappling with severe water shortages.
“The PWD engineers are working hard and doing their best. The water scarcity is not their fault. The problem lies in the government’s lack of vision to address the drinking water crisis,” Fernandes said.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured four hours of daily water supply. Earlier, he had even promised a 24-hour supply. The government went so far as to boast that Goa was the first state to accomplish the Har Ghar Jal scheme, yet people are facing water shortages everywhere.”
He further stated that the WRD Minister should resign if he is unable to provide drinking water to the people of Goa.
Reminding that Panchawadi in Minister Shirodkar’s constituency is home to a dam, the MP pointed out that water scarcity persists in the Shiroda constituency, with even a local school facing a shortage.
Attributing the crisis to government mismanagement, Fernandes warned, “A day will come when people will manhandle MLAs if they don’t receive water even for a day. This is the sad state of affairs in Goa today. It will come to that. There is total mismanagement.”
