MAPUSA
The water supply section of the Public Works Department has announced restricted water supply to the entire Bardez on account of a breach in the Tillari canal.
“The Bardez taluka will have restricted water supply till the restoration of water supply from Tillari irrigation canal,” stated a press note released by the Department of Information.
Due to the shortage of raw water supply, Assonora water treatment plant has been drawing water from the Amthane dam.
For the last 10 days, several parts of Bardez, especially Porvorim and Calangute, were not getting proper water supply.
“Water supply will not be totally stopped although supply will be controlled due to shortage of raw water at the Assonora treatment plant,” said a PWD official.
Meanwhile, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Wednesday evening met PWD officials at Altinho-Panaji and stressed the need to prepare a holistic plan to augment the water treatment plant in Assonora and replace all the outdated infrastructure at the treatment plant.
He said after the breaching of the Tillari canal, the entire Bardez has been facing severe water scarcity.
“I have asked the PWD engineers to prepare a plan of what are the requirements that have to be put in place in order to augment the supply of water at Assonora treatment plant. As soon as they prepare the estimated cost to revamp the plant, I will then meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” Lobo said.
“We do not want free water here. For the last 10 days, people in Bardez have not got water. We are ready to pay but we want proper supply,” he said.
Last week, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte also raised the issue of water shortage in Porvorim and demanded an action plan from the department.
