CANACONA
Several areas have been facing a water scarcity in Canacona, prompting the PWD to presently contract four private water tankers to the affected areas.
Canacona PWD (water-supply) Junior Engineer Deepraj Madkaikar told The Goan that water is being supplied in tankers to Polem and Shellim (Loliem-Polem), Avali, Bordem, Yedda and a few other areas (Cotigao), Xelpem, Vagon and Saleri and some parts of Khola, as the ground water resources have already dried up.
“Besides, there are a few pockets in Gaondongrim where tankers are also sent to meet water requirements,” said Madkaikar.
Water supply is regular and unaffected in other villages and municipal areas, the source added.
There are around 30 areas in different parts of the taluka serviced under Rural Water Supply Schemes (RWSS), where water is tapped from the ground source and supplied to the residents in the locality.
“Water from 10 of these RWSS sites began to dry up by March end and the PWD responded by contracting four tankers from private operators to supply water to the affected areas. If needed, the PWD can dispatch up to 7 water tankers,” said the source.
The source said the PWD (water supply) normally floats a tender for supply of water in tankers to affected areas in Canacona for about 68 days during summer.
“This year too, the tender was floated, approved and finalised to hire 7 tankers in Canacona for those 68 days. However, just before the expenditure was sanctioned and the work order could be released, the declaration of Lok Sabha polls and election code of conduct jeopardised the tender,” said the source.
The source said the Canacona PWD has now put up a proposal for an in-principle approval to the tender considering several areas affected due to drying up of the ground water resources.
“The PWD has sought to engage 4 tankers to meet the water requirements in 10 of the RWSS areas. The rates of each tanker with stainless steel tanks having a capacity 10,000 cu. of water storage depends on the range in kilometres such as 30 kms, 40 kms, 50 kms, etc.,” said the source.
Added PWD JE Madkaikar: “As more RWSS areas dry up, more tankers would be engaged to supply water to these areas. These tankers are also being diverted to other affected areas, wherever there are interruptions of regular tap water supply.”
