MAPUSA
After Porvorim, water supply to Mapusa has been severely affected in the last few days.
While Khorlim, Ansabhat and Feira Alta were worst affected, residents living at a higher altitude received no supply for the last three days at a stretch.
Several residents in other parts of the town complained that water pressure has dropped drastically and the frequency of supply has also reduced in the last few days.
Angry Khorlim residents marched to the PWD office in Mapusa inquiring over the sudden scarcity of water in the town. “We have received so much of rain in the last five months, yet we have to face this problem. Why can’t the department ensure a minimum of three hours of proper supply?” asked an agitated local.
Suresh Khanolkar of Khorlim informed that he did not receive a drop of water for two days while another local from the same area said he had not received supply for the last three days.
The locals warned to bring a larger crowd to the department if the supply was not restored in the area.
According to Khorlim councillor Swapnil Shirodkar, people living at higher altitude have not received a drop of water for the last four to five days.
Similarly, councillor Tushar Tople also admitted that police quarters and people living
near the St Britto’s High School did not receive water for days together.
A PWD official admitted that water supply has been affected in some parts of Mapusa for the last few days due to some issues at the water treatment plant in Assonora.
Sources informed that one of the three treatment plants in Assonora was set up in early ’70s and therefore its performance has reduced.
“Secondly, we lose a lot of water due to leakages in the pipelines under the ground,” the source said.
According to Executive Engineer, PWD (water), Nitin Neurekar when the water treatment plant is closed for maintenance and restarted some problems take place.
“Air valves develop in the pipeline when we shut and reopen the treatment plants. These air valves are difficult to trace and to attend to. So, when air gets trapped in the pipeline water does not flow with good pressure,” Neurekar said.
He said power fluctuations, although rare, also create problems for the plants to restart which in turn delays release of water.
“Most places in Bardez must have received water by now. By Sunday, things are expected to normalise,” he said.
