Govt has failed to provide 24X7 water supply in state: Sudin

Ponda: Reacting to the comments made by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on water supply, the former PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar, on Monday, claimed that 100 per cent tap water connections in the state was achieved with the efforts made by him and then chief minister the late Manohar Parrikar, and the entire country praised Goa for that.

“Though CM Dr Sawant is claiming that I have not done much in my tenure as the PWD Minister to improve water supply, he should remember that 100 per cent tap water connections in the state, which present government is boasting about, was achieved under my tenure under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar,”  Dhavalikar said on Monday, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a programme organised for commissioning 300 mm diameter waterline from Kundaim to Marcaim.

Speaking further, Dhavalikar said that failure on the part of the present government to provide funds has hindered the JICA projects in the state, and added that the government has failed to provide 24X7 water supply to the people of the state.

“Secondly, the failure of the government to control non-revenue water (NRW) is another reason for not being not able to provide 24X7 water supply to the people of Goa,” he added.

“During our tenure, we had brought down the NRW to below 25 per cent, but presently it has gone beyond 40 per cent. Water theft, water leakage, and other wasting of water come under NRW, which the government has failed to control,” he said.

The Chief Minister should speak on controlling NRW, and spread awareness about the judicious use of water rather than blaming others, he suggested.

Further, Dhavalikar criticised the Chief Minister for assuring completion of the Betki health centre project within 18 months.

“Completion of the health centre project in Betki in 18 months is not possible. If it is really possible, then why Sankhali bus stand is still incomplete for the last 5 years, why Banastari market project and Mangueshi tourism project are pending for the last 3 years,” he questioned, and alleged that Chief Minister is giving false assurances with an eye on 2022 elections.

On Monday, Dhavalikar commissioned a 300 mm diameter 4.5 km long waterline from Kundaim pumping station to Marcaim reservoir, which was laid by spending around Rs 2.50 crore.

“Commissioning of the pipeline will ensure enough water supply to the entire Marcaim constituency, thus resolving water issue faced by all residents, especially, those residing in the uphill areas,”  he said.

Earlier, reservoir on Marcaim uphill area was getting water through the Mardol pipeline, but now the PWD has laid a dedicated line for the Marcaim reservoir, which will provide almost 200 cubic metres of surplus water, he said.

On the occasion, Dhavalikar also assured to provide 500-litre capacity tanks to each household in Axan and other areas in the coming days to help them store water.

Marcaim sarpanch Laxi Tari, Kundaim sarpanch Mohan Gaude, PWD executive engineer Nivrutti Parsekar, assistant engineer Yashwant Mapari and others were present.

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