VASCO
Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Thursday said various measures were being taken to improve water supply issues in Mormugao taluka.
Naik was speaking to reporters after a joint review meeting with PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, PWD engineers and contractors at Ravindra Bhavan in Baina.
"Mormugao constituency is located at the tail end and we sometimes face water shortage. We decided to focus and work on improving the water supply.”
“Mormugao used to get erratic water supply because the 1,000 mm line from Verna supplied water at very low pressure and the line had become weak after more than 30 years of its service. As a result, there were leakages, low pressure and other issues,” said Naik.
Naik informed that a major reservoir with a capacity of 50 lakh litres had been constructed at Sada and a line was provided with a booster pump so that with higher pressure, water tank could be filled in the shortest time.
“This 50 lakh litre tank would also work as a storage tank in case the main pipeline bursts and there is a water shortage.”
“Additionally, two 6.5 lakh litre overhead tanks were also constructed at Headland Sada and Sada during the last tenure. The entire major network was replaced and revamped, including PVC pipelines in an area where there has been a perennial water problem.”
“All this was done in anticipation that once the JICA project is completed, we would get sufficient water," said Naik.
Niak said despite these measures, there would be regular complains about erratic water supply.
“The main reason for the water shortage was the non-commissioning of 900 mm MS pipeline from Verna to Destero.
“We later had meetings with PWD engineers and we were given to understand that unless the bridge is completed at Bogmalo across the railway track, water supply is not going to improve.”
“We were surprised to know that since 2013, the PWD had been trying to get approval from the South Western Railway, but their efforts were in vain as the railways were not offering full cooperation.”
“Sometime in March 2019, we decided to follow up regularly and take the support of the PWD to get the required permission, including approval of drawings of the steel bridge structure,” said Naik.
He informed that two visits were made by his office staff to Hubli to understand the ground reality.
"In the meantime, the union railways minister came to Goa and along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the PWD minister, we apprised him of the problems faced by residents of Mormugao taluka for want of simple permission.”
“After his intervention, the approval was obtained in December 2019 and the foundation and truss work will soon be ready," said Naik.
