MARGAO
Just imagine a situation when a water supply division has no vehicle at its disposal to ferry men and officials,
nor adequate plumbers to attend breakdowns in their
jurisdiction.
Division IX of PWD Water Supply looking after villages in Salcete taluka is plagued with both men and vehicles shortage, but there's no support forthcoming from the department till date.
There's a huge shortage of plumbers the village has been facing, but while the department had recently appointed a couple of watchmen, there's no sign of plumbers posted at the Division.
Strange as it may sound, but its true that there are no vehicles even for an Assistant engineer or other officials to report to areas hit by pipeline breakdowns.
"The manpower and vehicle shortage has hit operations at the division IX. We are helpless since there's no change in the ground reality despite the higher ups being briefed over the situation", a senior officials told
The Goan.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Council for Margao has condemned the state of affairs at the water supply Department, Margao. "On the one hand, the government is enjoying at the cost of the consumers who are subjected to exorbitant water bills owing to the faulty JICA meter and on the other hand it is totally neglecting this section", stated SCM Convenor Savior Coutinho.
Coutinho stated that as per information, there are 32,000 consumers under this sub division from areas of Margao, Fatorda and Benaulim.
"And hundreds of consumers are having issues to be addressed by this office, be it regarding faulty meters, leakage/pressure problems or new connection, have to make end number of trips to this office, as site inspections are postponed for want of staff vehicles. The privileged few who can afford, ferry the officials with their own vehicles or hired vehicles, but the poor goenkar is left in a lurch",
he added.
The SCM demands that if the consumers have to hire vehicles to ferry officials, than "credit for the hire charges should be given" to the consumers in the bills.
Coutinho warned that people will take to the streets if the situation at this department does not improve within a fortnight.
