the goan I network
MAPUSA
With the government failing to resolve the water crisis in Bardez, PWD (water) Assistant Engineer Subhash Belgaonkar faced the wrath of agitated Mapusa residents on Thursday who demanded immediate restoration of supply.
Angry locals also hit out at the government, PWD minister and the local MLA for failing to provide the basic necessity to public.
Led by councillors Tushar Tople and Sudhir Kandolkar, residents of Mapusa marched to the PWD Mapusa office and demanded answers from the AE for the shortage of water supply in the city.
“We have kept politics aside and gathered here to protest against severe water shortage. For the last 15 days, the city has been facing acute shortage of water. People had to celebrate Dussehra without water from the PWD,” Tople said.
Former chairperson and senior councillor, Sudhir Kandolkar, informed that for the last 22 days he had received several complaints of irregular water supply from residents of Mapusa.
“I have personally sent water tankers to several people in the ward. Water and power are essential services which has to be made available to people easily,” Kandolkar said.
Former Shiv Sena man, Ramesh Naik, slammed the State government and Mapusa MLA for ignoring the cries of Mapusa residents and failing the people of Goa when it matters.
“Where is the government? Your government is sleeping and the Mapusa MLA is also sleeping. It’s obvious they do not care for the people of Goa,” an angry Naik said.
The city of Mapusa and parts of Bardez have been reeling under water crisis for the last several weeks, which was compounded in the last couple of days after water resources department decided to suddenly pull the plug and stopped supply of raw water form Amthane dam to Assonora water treatment plant.
On Thursday morning, agitated locals shouted and heckled the assistant engineer for failing to perform his duties.
“Why should we always come with a morcha to your office? If you cannot solve our water problem, then resign from service,” one of the residents said.
The locals also blamed PWD officials who operate the valves and alleged that they were controlling the valves in such a way that water was released to hoteliers and influential people for a price.
The State government and the PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar also came in for criticism from the agitated residents.
“Roads are in bad condition and we have to live without water for days together. Where is the government?” asked one resident.
“In the past, the blame was put on Sudin Dhavalikar. Now, the chief minister should remove the PWD portfolio from Deepak Pauskar and he should personally handle it,” said another.
Pravin Asolkar, a resident of Mapusa, said government should stop building flyovers and focus on supplying water to the public.
The councillors, Tushar Tople and Sudhir Kandolkar, along with the AE decided to meet Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza, on Saturday.
Councillor Sanjay Mishal and former councillor Anand Bhaidkar was also present at the protest march.
Local MLA, Executive Engineer were regularly updated: AE
MAPUSA: Stating that Mapusa was not getting the required quantity of water from the Assonora plant, PWD (water) Assistant Engineer, Subhash Belgaonkar said he has been regularly sending reports to the local MLA and the executive engineer.
“I send daily report of the status of the water supply to the Mapusa MLA and the executive engineer,” Belgaonkar said. He said the total requirement of Bardez was 140 MLD water while the Assonora treatment plant was producing only 110 MLD treated water and its actual capacity of the plant was only 92 MLD. The AE also said that Mapusa’s requirement was 18 MLD of water but off late only 10 MLD was supplied to the city. “Amthane water was suddenly stopped and the turbidity of water supplied from Tillari canal is very high and cannot be treated. That is why we have been facing the problem for the past few days,” the AE said. Interestingly, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had visited Mapusa in August on the request of the local MLA and councillors and had promised to release adequate quantity of water for the city.
