PERNEM
After a brief respite on Wednesday and Thursday, people in Pernem taluka have had to face water shortage since July 23 and they will now be hit by more water shortage over the next two days.
In a notice, the PWD executive engineer stated that a breach in the bandhara at Maharashtra had led to a rise in turbidity of water in the Kalna river and forcing the halt in operations at the Chandel Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
As a result, there will be no water supply to the entire Pernem taluka on July 30 and 31 from the Chandel WTP, the engineer added.
People have been hit by water shortage since the floods had caused extensive damage in Pernem taluka on July 23 and authorities had stated that the 15 MLD Water Treatment Plant had stopped operation due to sudden rise in water level of Kalna River, leading to the restricted water supply to entire Pernem taluka on July 24 and July 25.
However, locals were still without water supply till July 27.
A PWD official had stated that two pumps at the Chandel WTP had been restarted and water supply would be resumed and regularised in some areas by the wee hours of Wednesday.
Residents received water supply on Wednesday and Thursday, only to learn that water supply would be stopped yet again on Friday and Saturday.
Many have complained that the PWD had failed to provide an alternate source of water supply when operations are halted at the Chandel WTP.
They claim a similar problem had arisen during cyclone Tauktae in May, leaving people without water supply for eight days and forcing them to fetch water from traditional wells.
