Week-long crisis shows inefficiency of PWD: Mapusa Council

Civic body unanimously demands new pipeline, reservoir, extra water tankers for CITY, new pumps at Assonora TREATMENT plant

| SEPTEMBER 20, 2018, 03:03 AM IST

the goan I network

MAPUSA

Expressing unhappiness with the way the public works department handled the water crisis, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday unanimously decided to recommend the PWD to undertake urgent laying of water pipeline from Assonora water treatment plant to Mapusa.

The council also called for immediate installation of new pumps at the plant, construction of new reservoir in the city and to deploy at least four to five water tankers to Mapusa during water shortages.

Setting the tone for the special meeting, Chairperson Ryan Braganza said that water was not a function of the municipality, but being public representatives they (councilors) were all accountable.

“For Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most important festival in Goa, if people do not get water for seven/eight days, then it is not a very good sign,” Braganza said adding, “At least, notice should have been given to people that there won’t be water on September 12, 13, 14…or more days.”

Besides all the 20 councilors, GSIDC chairman and Aldona MLA, Glen Ticlo also attended the special council meeting to thrash out ways to resolve the water issue.

PWD Executive Engineer, V M Chavan, Mapusa AE, Subhash Belgoankar and the other junior engineers were also present.

Senior councilor and former chairperson, Sandip Falari said that people of Mapusa suffered a lot during the festival due to the water crisis.

“When we speak of good governance there should be some systems in place. The water problem in Mapusa should have been resolved within seven hours and not seven days as it was allowed to drag,” Falari said.

He said PWD has a big budget and wondered why the department was shying away from buying new pumps.

The senior councilor said that there should be regular audit and proper maintenance drill carried out at the Assonora plant.

Councilor, Rajsingh Rane blamed the in charge at the Assonora WTP for the mess that was created due to the water problem.

“Your department has made us suffer for seven days. I want to know, what action will be taken against the incharge,” Rane questioned the EE.

Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo said that Mapusa MLA Francisco D’Souza constantly asked for updates on the water issue.

“PWD should take steps to carry out proper maintenance at the plant and also provide adequate backup so that such incidents do not happen again,” Ticlo said.

PWD took time to understand dynamics of water flow: EE

MAPUSA: Partly accepting the blame, PWD Executive Engineer V M Chavan said that the department took time to understand the dynamics of the water flow.

“Mapusa has a peculiar problem as it is at an altitude. When we released the water, most of it went to constituencies which were at a lower level like Calangute, Siolim, Aldona, etc. Now, we have completely shut off the flow to these constituencies, so that Mapusa residents can get water,” said Chavan, at a special meeting of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday.

He also said that the pumps sent to Ahmedabad and Bangalore will arrive in Goa on Friday and will be installed on Saturday.

“By Sunday, normalcy will be restored in Mapusa and

Bardez taluka in general,” he said.

Councillors hit out at PWD Mapusa AE

MAPUSA: The PWD and its Mapusa Assistant Engineer, in particular, were assailed on Wednesday for failing to get their act together.

Firing the first salvo at the council meeting, councillor Swapnil Shirodkar said that while the city was going through a hell of the time, the AE either refused to take calls or switched his cell phone off.

“We want to know why AE Subhash Belgoankar did not take our calls when the whole of Mapusa was suffering without water. What action will you take against your officer,” Shirodkar asked the executive engineer.

Criticising the functioning of the PWD, Vice-Chairperson Marlene D’Souza said that most of the PWD officers worked with a “care a damn” attitude.

“Everyone says that PWD is the worst department. From an AE to a JE, nobody gives a damn. The attitude of your officers must change,” D’Souza told the EE.

Shirodkar disclosed that one of the PWD officials even refused to listen to councillor Joshua D’Souza, who is the son of the Urban Development Minister and the local MLA.

“Your officer said that he did not know the MLA’s son. I have recorded the incident. I want to know what action you will take,” Shirodkar asked.

Senior councillor and former chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar said that whenever such incidents take place, the engineers do not pick up calls.

In his defence, AE Subhash Belgoankar claimed that he could not get range at his native place and therefore people could not get through to him.

Surprisingly, the EE refused to accept the AE’s explanation. “I don’t feel that reason is good enough,” Chavan said.