MAPUSA
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar on Thursday said work to set up a 15 MLD water treatment plant at the Pilerne Industrial Estate would begin from August and once it is commissioned in a year’s time, it would completely resolve water woes of people living along the Calangute-Candolim beach belt.
He also said the beach villages would also get good water supply once the new water treatment plant at Porvorim is fully commissioned in the next few months.
“Although the Calangute MLA was pushing for the project, it got delayed for some reason and now work on the water treatment plant project will start from August,” Pauskar said.
“The government could not supply adequate quantity of water to Calangute but with the new project, Calangute and surrounding villages will get good supply,” he added.
The PWD Minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for beautification of the road from Parra Tinto to Verla-Canca circle. Ports Minister and Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo was also present.
Later, in another programme in Candolim, the PWD minister inaugurated a new section office of the PWD (Water) and electricity department at the Candolim panchayat.
Pauskar informed that soon after work on the beautification is completed the PWD will hotmix the entire road by November.
The beautification work entails widening of road, construction of footpath and retaining wall, setting up of speed breakers and bus bays.
The total project cost is around Rs 3 crore.
Ports Minister Michael Lobo said more than a year back, he had cleared all the encroachments along the road so that it could be widened and converted into a good motorable road.
“We will construct footpaths and even provide cycle lane along the stretch. It will have all the modern amenities that a road requires to ensure safe driving,” Lobo said.
He said the construction of the Verla-Canca circle with pavers and proper drainage system was one of the best works carried out by the PWD.
“We always criticise PWD for doing a shoddy job. But the department can also do good work and the Verla-Canca circle was a testimony. If the contractor, local MLA and panchayat join hands and carry out proper follow up of the work then we can definitely do good work,” Lobo said.
Verla-Canca Sarpanch Ameeta Korgaonkar, ZP member, panchayat members and others were also present at the function.
