Not possible to provide 24×7 water supply: CM

Assures it for at least 4 hrs a day

Panaji: Admitting that it is not possible for the government to provide water supply round the clock at this juncture, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday told the state legislative assembly that efforts are on to provide water to households for at least four hours a day.

Bicholim MLA Chand-rakant Shetye moved a calling attention on the recurring severe water shortage in North Goa,  especially in Bicholim and Mayem, and sought steps to  provide water supply 24×7.

Sawant, who also holds PWD portfolio, said the entire state is provided with potable water supply and that there is no acute water shortage except during maintenance works taken up in case of pipeline burst, which  mostly occurs due to the work for  utility connections.

The public water department has not received any major complaints from Bicholim and Mayem, Sawant said, adding that the water resources department has already taken up various measures as required to ensure the availability of raw water in North Goa.

Also, an alternate arrangement of raw water has  also been initiated, the Chief Minister said.

“In order to achieve 24×7 water supply for the  state, it is necessary to ramp up not only water supply system facilities but also to improve the knowledge and understanding of judicious water use so  as to get fair  water tariffs,” he reckoned.

Sawant said that for the benefit of people living in Bicholim and Mayem assembly constituencies the department is taking up the construction of 10 MLD water treatment plant at Menkurem along with setting up of reservoirs, conveying and distribution pipelines.

In addition, several schemes for water supply augmentation  are  also being taken up for the improvement of water supply.

According to him, the PWD is implementing smart monitoring systems for real-time watch of the water supply infrastructure.

This will help the PWD optimise water distribution networks, detect and repair leaks promptly and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements so as to achieve the dream goal of 24×7 water supply.

Furthermore, the department has come out with the mobile app ‘PWD GOA’ to register complaints/grievances which is a real-time GIS-based application for tracking and resolving complaints.

Additionally, 24×7 helpline – 7030055136 and 7030055036 – is available, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Opposition leader Yuri Alemao demanded a study of  carrying capacity in the coastal belt of  North Goa district and water requirements in these areas.

He also questioned  whether the government is really able to provide water supply round-the-clock. If not, then the House should be  informed about the supply of water for specific hours.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo claimed  that the coastal belt does not get water for half an hour,  alleging that big hotels  use pumps  to use water throughout the day.

As a result, locals have been facing water scarcity in the entire coastal belt in North Goa, Lobo said, seeking  a study on  the carrying capacity of the coastal belt.

“Until a carrying capacity study is conducted, the government should not issue new water connections to big projects and establishments in the coastal belt,” he suggested.

Lobo alleged that local village panchayats are granting permission for big projects without discussing the impact on localities.