A professional approach is needed to manage water supply in the state
Once again major parts of Bardez and Bicholim talukas are reeling under water shortage over the last two days. The official reason: a major breach in the Tillari canal at Kudase, Dodamarg in Maharashtra. The rupture occurred hours before Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar and senior officials were scheduled to inspect the ongoing repair work of the Tillari canal on Friday.
Due to the breach, the flow of raw water from the canal, which is crucial for the operation of several treatment plants supplying potable water to Bardez, was halted and the Goa government was found wanting. Panicked, the public works department (PWD) announced restricted water supply from January 24 till the canal was restored.
The Tillari project, a joint irrigation project between Goa and Maharashtra, has long been a critical source of raw water for Goa. Though initially it was meant for irrigation, the state government decided to utilise the raw water for drinking purpose after it is treated at Assonora. Over the years, the canals have seen breaches occurring, disrupting the supply and causing flooding of standing crops nearby.
The latest breach has exposed the government of readiness in case such canal ruptures take place. Is North Goa so dependent on Tillari that it has no other alternative to bank on? Why water couldn’t have been sourced from the Amthane dam? Unfortunately, citizens had to go without water when the country celebrated its Republic Day on Sunday even as political leaders spoke of lofty achievements. Monday evening, the PWD said they couldn’t take water from Amthane dam as its “gate failed to open”. In other words, the PWD says it is not to be blamed for the delay in restoring water supply but it has happened due to the (inefficiency) of the water resource department (WRD). The dams are maintained and operated by the WRD and the PWD only takes raw water from them and treats it before supplying it to the consumers. One department blames the other and people continue to suffer for the complete lack of inefficiency. Put differently, what the PWD said is that it is inefficient in maintaining the Amthane dam. There are no answers to the questions angry citizens pose. Is there any accountability in the government departments?
The PWD is such a massive department that one wonders whether the government is aware of the kind of work being done down the line. Some state governments have made water supply as a separate department. Currently, the PWD in Goa takes care of roads, buildings, their repairs, maintenance and even construction, besides water supply. About 15 years ago, there was a talk of making water supply a separate department. Many times, political bosses depend too much on officers who ‘advise’ the government in such a way that they continue to get extensions after extensions in service. Inefficiency, corruption, and nepotism don’t end. They are well-entrenched in the system, and some officers become indispensible in the eyes of the ministers concerned. To bring about efficiency, the government needs to take a review of the work being done by the PWD, and accordingly necessary steps should be taken. Their focus should be more on giving better service to the people. Coteries cannot be allowed to run government departments or bodies. Hopefully, the government will learn from the current case and take appropriate action. What the people need is professional water management.
