PANAJI
The affluent suburban areas surrounding the capital city, including Taleigao, Dona Paula, and Caranzalem, are currently facing a distressing water scarcity situation.
The residents have no choice but to rely on water tankers for their domestic and drinking water needs while also raising concerns about the water quality, especially after incidents of tankers transporting sewage were reported in other parts of Goa.
Social worker Cecille Rodrigues, who is leading the campaign for adequate and safe water supplies in the area, criticized the authorities including Public Works Department (PWD) for neglecting the issue despite multiple pleas.
Rodrigues expressed frustration saying over the past few weeks, a large portion of Taleigao has been suffering from a water crisis and the authorities are not acknowledging the problem to find a solution.
“While those living near the Governor's palace in Nagali Hills are getting adequate water supply, the population living in lower areas have no water. Similarly, places like Aivao and La Citadel Colony among many others are also facing severe water shortages,” she said.
Rodrigues also suspects that the government may have ulterior motives for not resolving the issue at least in Aivao, potentially aiming to relocate the inhabitants to Canacona -- issue which has been lingering for several years.
The residents of Hawaii beach are also entangled in the problem with households either not receiving the direct supply or if they do, it is at low pressure barely for a few minutes.
“The scarcity has significantly impacted our daily lives. We have endured prolonged periods without sufficient water and with no other options available, we are continuing to rely on water tankers, unaware of its quality,” one of the residents, Mario Mathew said.
Chris Lopez, another resident and Chairman of Purva Cooperative Society located in Martins Morod at Caranzalem mentioned that residents in 44 apartments have been struggling to receive a consistent supply of water from the PWD. As a temporary solution, the Chairman has arranged for two tankers to fill the tanks daily.
“For the first few days of this summer season, the water pressure was so high that the tanks in our society would overflow, but it has been more than a month since we are facing the problem. Nevertheless, we are ensuring that residents receive water through tankers, although we are disappointed that the concerned PWD assistant engineer has failed to assist us despite repeated pleas,” he said.
The residents, Lopez expressed, are also concerned about the water quality. “We have to rely on faith. We are using this water for domestic and drinking purposes but our people deserve some relief from the authorities concerned,” he said.
Recognizing the severity of the matter, the High Court of Bombay at Goa recently took suo motu cognisance of a specific incident in La Oceana Colony located in Dona Paula, where residents were left without water.
