The protest by residents of Curti, Ponda, outside the Public Works Department (PWD) is a stark reminder that abundant rainfall does not automatically guarantee a reliable water supply. After enduring a month-long water crisis, frustrated residents have warned of a massive morcha if the problem is not resolved within four days. Access to clean water is a basic necessity, not a privilege. Residents should not be forced to queue for water tankers or alter their daily lives because of systemic failures. Their anger is justified. What makes the situation particularly alarming is that Goa has witnessed heavy rainfall over the past several days. Yet households continue to struggle for something as basic as drinking water. This contradiction points to a failure not of nature but of governance and infrastructure. It is easy to blame deficient rainfall during the summer months for water scarcity. However, when taps remain dry in the middle of the monsoon, the excuse simply does not hold. The current crisis is clearly man-made. The government must look into long-term solutions by modernising ageing water infrastructure. Water shortages during the peak of summer may sometimes be understandable. A water crisis during the monsoon, when nature has done its part, is simply unacceptable. The people of Goa deserve better.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
