Water waste: Chicalim locals hit out at PWD

THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Accusing the PWD of failing to act on their complaints about a large leak in the main water pipeline, a group of residents from in and around Chicalim on Saturday complained that thousands of litres of water had been wasted each day for several months.
What has further angered the locals is that the area, where the major leakage has been taking place, has virtually turned into a cave and a popular spot for several migrant labourers who visit the site to bathe and wash their clothes.
Residents fear that the water used by migrants after bathing and washing clothes could seep back into the pipeline and contaminate the entire flow of water through the pipeline.
They have expressed concern that the contaminated water could then affect everyone in the area as the pipeline caters to the water supply of the entire Mormugao taluka.
"This water pipeline has been leaking for so many months and despite several complains, the PWD has not acted in the matter. It looks like they are just not bothered. Thousands of litres are getting wasted everyday and the leaking water flows like a spring here only to be wasted,” remarked former Chicalim sarpanch Raul Fernandes.
“On the one hand, Chicalim people don't get proper water supply and on the other side, thousands of litres of water are being wasted daily. Now migrants have begun bathing and washing their clothes at the site,” Fernandes said.
Social activist Kiran Naik said it was high time for the PWD to act in the matter.
“The migrants are washing their clothes here and if this dirty water enters the pipeline, the entire water supply could get affected and this contaminated water will mix with the PWD water and reach all homes across the taluka. What is stopping the PWD from taking action to contain the wastage of water by taking up minor repairs," asked Naik.
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Awaiting permission from Railways to commission new pipelines: PWD
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THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO: PWD Assistant Engineer Eknath Paste said repairs of the pipeline could take around four days, but the water supply would have to be stopped to carry out the work.
"The works could take around four days and water supply will have to be stopped while carrying out works. Since water supply cannot be stopped, we have kept the works pending.”
Paste also said though new water pipelines are ready for use, the PWD was awaiting permission from the South Western Railways to commission them.
“The new water pipeline under JICA is ready and this pipeline is bigger and better but we are not getting permission from the South Western Railways to install and commission these new pipelines.”
“The existing pipeline has crossed its 30-year life and there are several leakages and every time we clear one leakage, another place starts leaking. This can only be resolved if the new pipeline gets commissioned and this will resolve the issue permanently,” explained Paste.
“Even JICA people are trying hard to get permissions from the Railways, but railways have maintained that they want to carry out expansion works of double tracking in the area and hence, cannot offer us permissions as their access could be blocked with our works.”
“If the Railways permits us to install new pipelines, this would solve the water leakage problem and people could also get water with greater pressure," Paste added.