Staff Reporter
Mapusa
Upset over irregular water supply, residents of Anjuna and Assagao on Tuesday staged a morcha at the PWD’s water supplies department office at Dattawadi, Mapusa, demanding regular and sufficient water supply to their areas.
The villagers have repeatedly raised grievances about erratic water supply, which the department has failed to resolve.
Raising the issue, Caisua resident Amita Nagvekar said, “For the last three months, we have been facing water supply issues. Water is being released during the night, which is allegedly going to hotels. We want water to be released in the morning with good pressure for at least two hours.”
Nagvekar said that the junior engineer is aware of when water is being diverted but was absent from the office when the protestors arrived, citing repair work. She also urged the local MLA to replace the staff, as they have been posted there for many years but have failed to address the situation.
Another resident Nilesh Govekar said the junior engineer has failed to solve the problem despite multiple protests adding, “The valve on the main line is closed for us because, on the same line, Siolim Marna gets water, but further Assagao doesn’t.”
Parvarti Nagvekar said that residents were promised water from a new direct line to Caisua eight months ago. “Six months back, we had got water, and we thought the problem was solved. But despite the new line, problems continue. For the last two months, we haven’t got water. Some small houses are getting water, but others are not. If our issues are not solved, we will hold a dharna,”
she said.
The assistant engineer said that the line had been closed for two days, which may have affected supply, but assured that they would check the valve. He further said that after the old lines were replaced with new ones, the situation had improved, and once the water plant is fully operational, the problems
should be resolved.
