MAPUSA
Residents of Bardez have once again been hit with restricted water supply, marking the fifth such disruption in the past seven months.
The latest announcement came last Monday when the Public Works Department (PWD) informed the public that water supply would be significantly restricted due to a breach in the Tillari canal in Kudase, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. Repair work is currently underway, and the PWD has not provided a timeline for when the situation will be resolved.
This interruption follows closely on the heels of another restriction imposed on August 7, when the PWD announced a two-day water supply cut across Bardez for urgent maintenance at the 30 MLD Water Treatment Plant in Assonora. This maintenance came as a surprise, as the plant had already undergone pre-monsoon maintenance in May, during which many parts of the taluka experienced a two-day water shortage.
The recent series of disruptions has highlighted ongoing issues with the Assonora Water Treatment Plant, which is the primary source of drinking water for Bardez and parts of Bicholim. The plant has faced multiple challenges, including faults in its transformer and aging infrastructure. These issues have been compounded by frequent breaches in the Tillari canal, which supplies raw water to the treatment plant.
Residents have expressed frustration over the repeated disruptions, particularly during the monsoon season when access to clean water is critical. In mid-July, heavy rains led to flooding in several parts of Goa, yet many areas in Bardez were left without water for days. It was only after residents voiced their concerns that the PWD issued a public notice, citing a fault in the Assonora plant’s transformer as the cause of the disruption.
Earlier in the year, on February 24, Bardez faced another water shortage due to a pipeline leak in Porvorim. The cumulative impact of these disruptions has caused significant inconvenience for local residents.
Senior engineers from the PWD’s water division have acknowledged the difficulties faced by the community but expressed their helplessness in preventing these disruptions. “The government has initiated some steps, such as starting a filtration plant in Porvorim and planning another in Pilerne, but the Assonora plant, which supplies water to most areas of Bardez and parts of Bicholim, urgently needs an upgrade,” a PWD engineer stated.
Efforts to reach the water resources department for comment were unsuccessful.
As the Bardez taluka continues to grapple with these recurring issues, residents are calling for swift action to ensure a reliable water supply and prevent further disruptions in the future.
