Goa's Drinking Water Minister Subhash Phal Desai made a firm commitment on Tuesday. He stated the state government is actively working on special arrangements to tackle the severe water shortage plaguing the Mormugao constituency. The minister confidently assured residents that the issue will be fully resolved by April this year.
Aging Infrastructure and Ambitious Upgrades
Phal Desai highlighted the core of the problem. He revealed that Mormugao currently depends on a single, 35-year-old pipeline for its water supply. This aging infrastructure is clearly inadequate. The minister provided specific figures to illustrate the scale of the challenge.
The Mormugao constituency alone requires 12 million liters per day (MLD). However, the broader Mormugao taluka has a much larger demand of 81 MLD. This significant gap between supply and demand has created a persistent crisis for local communities.
Multi-Crore Solution Underway
To bridge this gap permanently, the state government has launched a major infrastructure project. Authorities have initiated work on a new, large-scale water treatment plant. The total cost for this crucial facility is a substantial Rs 443 crore.
Minister Phal Desai confirmed that construction is progressing well. He expects the plant to be fully operational and ready for use by April. This new plant is designed to significantly boost the overall water supply capacity for the region.
Alongside the treatment plant, the government plans complementary upgrades. A brand-new pipeline will be laid to replace the old, failure-prone system. Officials will also install six additional water pumps. These measures aim to ensure a more reliable and robust distribution network, minimizing future breakdowns.
Local MLA Expresses Frustration Over Delays
Despite the minister's assurances, local representative Sankalp Amonkar voiced strong dissatisfaction. The Mormugao MLA pointed out that the water shortage remains unresolved, even after recent discussions and meetings.
Amonkar referenced the minister's earlier announcement of a 12-hour regular water supply for Goa. He made a direct appeal to Minister Phal Desai. "I would request the minister to supply at least three hours of water to the Mormugao constituency," Amonkar stated.
The MLA reminded everyone of his own promise to constituents. He had pledged to secure a six-hour regular water supply for the area. The current situation, with persistent shortages, falls far short of that commitment and the needs of the people.
The contrasting statements set the stage for April. Residents of Mormugao will be watching closely to see if the government's promises of new pipelines and a treatment plant finally bring them the reliable water supply they desperately need.
