Surrounded by water bodies but not a drop to drink in Sattari
A community in Malpon receives water tanker service once in two days
Keri:
Despite having the Mhadei, its tributaries, and the Anjunem dam in Keri, villages in Sattari taluka continue to fall short of its water requirements due to overexploitation of groundwater, insufficient rainwater harvesting, and poor water resource management.
This in turn, has led to increased human-wildlife conflicts and disruptions in daily life.
Govt has established water treatment plants at Dabos (15 MLD) and Padoshe (40 MLD) to supply drinking water to most Sattari villages. However, road works, optical fiber installation, and power disruptions frequently interrupt supply.
The water crisis has particularly affected villages in the mining belt, prompting legal action.
'Only after the directives given by the high court, govt took necessary measures for resolving our drinking water crisis. We are getting drinking water through the taps and efforts are in progress to provide irrigation water to agro-horticultural crops,' said Hanumant Parab, a resident of Pissurlem.
In April, many villages experienced severe water shortages when heavy machinery damaged the main pipeline of the Dabos water treatment plant in Valpoi town.
While the public works department (PWD) deployed water tankers, many residents struggled to receive timely water supply.
Dhangar families near the Goa Institute of Management in Poriem also rely on water tankers for their daily needs. Remote hamlets where pastoral Dhangar families reside face daily struggles for safe drinking water.
The Dalit community in Nimnichegaal, Malpon, receives water tanker service only every two days, highlighting the ongoing challenges in water distribution across the region.
'Presently, we receive water supply for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. However, when there is no electricity, we have to bring water from the local well or natural spring carrying pots,' said Sumiksha Gaonkar from Kasarwada-Morle.
PWD executive engineer Rashmi Shirodkar in Bicholim stated, 'In Sattari, presently 9 tankers have been involved in providing drinking water in the interior areas. When there is disruption in the electricity supply, we make our best efforts to provide water through the tankers.'
The situation remains challenging for many residents. 'We are struggling to get drinking water supply smoothly and regularly and sometimes get water after two days and that is only for one hour. Most of the time, our taps run dry,' said Jyotma Gaonkar, a homemaker from Bhuipal.
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