Govt’s watertight claim of 100% water comes lose at every pipe (Herald)

May 6, 2014

 

 We the people get a mere 45% of water Goa is supposed to get 

 This is double the national benchmark of 20%

 Leakage, theft and non-working meters contribute to the loss

 

 

Glenn Costa/ Team Herald

glenn@herald-goa.com

 

This isn’t a watertight case. Not by a long shot. The people of Goa lose over 55% of the water that comes to the state, forcing taps to run dry and the omni present water tankers dominate the landscape, including the ones the government has to fall back on 

The state however ‘boasts’ of having 100% piped and metered water supply and claims to have enough treated water to cater to the stated demand of some 460 odd MLD (million litres per day). It produces 469 MLD potable water, however, the water leakages, or the non revenue water is officially at around 44-45%. 

This is due to leakage, theft or non-working meters. Even if the figure that the state produced around 500 MLD of water is correct just 40% leakage (called Non revenue Water or NRW) will make only 200 MLD available. The national bench mark is 20% and JICA’s exacting standards permit just 5%. But we have a piquant situation. The government claims that it’s on the road to providing round the clock and year round water, but if that is the case, why do we see water tankers? There is a defense, but a weak one. The state says that there isn’t enough pressure in some areas

The state claims that it is working to provide 24x7 supply to the entire population by 2035 through the Japanese-aided project, JICA. “We have enough water,” says PWD chief principal engineer J S Rego,  adding that they get raw water from the Water Resources Department. “Our water sources include Opa, Masol, Assnora and Selaulim. We have replaced the pumps at Selaulim, so there is no problem,” he said adding that the non revenue water percentage will be “brought down within a year.” He however admits that they have been supplying tanker water to places like Bicholim, Sattari and will shortly also supply to Tivrem. Clearly claims don’t match with ground realities.

The tanker “mafia”, according to PWD insiders themselves, operates on the fringes and in a nexus with the government. When the taps run dry, their business gets liquidity. Places like Mormugao and Porvorim, especially as they are heavily populated are always stressed and need tanker support.

In a series of reports, in this package, from the various towns we bring you ground realities, as opposed to pipe dreams.

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