Staff Reporter
Ponda
Water shortage for five days had hit around 200 families living in flats and buildings in Prabhunagar in Ponda, forcing them to rely on public toilets and purchase drinking water after miscreants allegedly tampered with a water valve, blocking supply to the area.
Residents said they previously received water for about four hours daily, but the supply dropped from Saturday, and by Sunday, it had stopped entirely. Initially assuming a general issue in Ponda, residents managed with stored water and tankers.
“However, upon contacting the PWD, we learnt that the water supply remained normal across Ponda, except for our locality. Further inquiry revealed that miscreants had allegedly tampered with a water valve, blocking the supply to Prabhunagar,” said MGP’s Ponda leader Ketan Bhatikar, who on Thursday led a protest to the PWD office in Ponda, with frustrated residents gheraoing the engineer and demanding immediate resumption of water supply.
PWD engineers had inspected the area on Wednesday and assured residents that the issue would be resolved. However, as water remained unavailable on Thursday, residents confronted PWD assistant engineer Kashinath Saraf. Some warned of further protests, including roadblocks, if the issue persisted.
Residents said they were forced to buy drinking water, bathe at relatives’ homes, and use public toilets in Ponda town due to the shortage.
Bhatikar alleged that the water shortage was deliberately created by individuals manipulating the valve and subsequently supplying water tankers at rates of Rs 900 to Rs 1,500 per tanker.
He demanded that the PWD deploy staff or police personnel to monitor the valve and prevent further tampering.
Saraf said that the valve had been tampered with, causing the disruption. “To prevent further manipulation, we have decided to lock the valve chamber and will also file a police complaint,” he said.
Saraf said that most affected buildings are in elevated areas, where reduced water pressure due to the tampering has worsened the shortage. He assured residents that once the valve issue is resolved, normal supply will resume.
