NT Reporter
Curchorem
Minister for Drinking Water and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai has announced a series of reforms aimed at improving drinking water supply in Goa, with a bold target of increasing supply duration from the current average of 12 hours per day to 18 hours.
Speaking to media persons, Phal Dessai outlined several initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce wastage, and ensure fairness for consumers.
After taking charge of the Department of Drinking Water (DDW), Phal Dessai said he conducted a detailed study of the demand-supply chain and identified key issues. One of his first reforms targets the current billing system, under which consumers
are charged for a minimum of 16 units, regardless of actual usage.
“Many residents are away from their homes due to work or business. Even without consuming a single unit, they are billed for 16. This will change. Consumers will now be billed only for the actual units they use,” he said.
Highlighting water losses, the minister said that a significant gap exists between water supplied and water actually consumed—primarily due to pipeline leakages and water theft.
Citing an example, he said a burst pipeline in the Kalay area went unattended for six months and was only repaired after it was brought to his notice. “To prevent such delays, we are implementing a new system where citizens can send photographs of burst or leaking pipelines to a dedicated number. Immediate action will follow,”
he assured.
To combat water theft, Phal Dessai announced plans to install water flow meters in Goa’s 900 water tanks, which will help track discrepancies and detect unauthorised usage. “This will help us monitor where unmetered water is going and take corrective action,” he said.
The minister also shared updates on the progress of a new 325 MLD (million litres per day) water project, which has already been tendered and is under execution. Once complete, the project is expected to ensure water supply reaches every part of the state.
“Our ultimate goal is to enhance water supply from the current average of 12 hours to 18 hours daily. These reforms will not only benefit consumers but
also reduce losses and help the government improve service delivery,” Phal
Dessai said.
