PORVORIM
Residents of Reis Magos are upset over the acute water shortage, especially during Ganesh and Navaratri celebrations.
Locals claimed that several complaints had been made to the panchayat but no action was taken, forcing them to pay hefty charges to hire private water tankers.
They also complained that the panchayat continues to give permission for the construction of new complexes but does not resolve the problem of water scarcity.
When contacted, PWD (Water supply) Assistant Engineer Dattaram Raikar said water to residents of Reis Magos is being released on alternate days.
“This has been going on for several years. Residents of Reis Magos receive water from the Assonora water treatment plant. Since Reis Magos is located at the tail end, water pressure gets reduced and therefore, residents get little water.”
“Water received from the Assonora Water treatment plant is stored in water tanks from 8 pm to 5 am, and then released to residents of Reis Magos and Nerul the next day,” said Raikar.
Commenting on the water shortage during Ganesh Chaturthi, Raikar said the main transformer at Reis Magos developed a fault on September 19.
“Engineers and workers replaced the old transformer with a new one on September 20 amid heavy rains and kept another transformer on standby. Water was received on September 21 evening and was released the next day. This work led to restricted water supply for three days,” he added.
Regarding the water scarcity during Navaratri, Raikar clarified there was no water supply for three days to the entire Bardez taluka, including Reis Magos, on account of a rupture in the water pipeline at Colvale on October 18.
“Water supply to Bardez taluka resumed on October 21. However on the same day, there was some problem with the Verem water pipeline, which was rectified immediately,” said Raikar.
Raikar said water scarcity in Reis Magos will be resolved once the 15 MLD water treatment plant of 15 MLD is set up at Pilerne. "The work order for this water treatment plant will be issued shortly and the WRD will provide raw water to this plant from Tillari,” Raikar added.
