Sal villagers give ultimatum over scarcity of water

[samir umarye]

BICHOLIM: Through a special meeting called by the Bicholim mamletdar  the villagers from Sal in Bicholim gave a 15-days period to the authorities to solve the water crisis warning that they would intensify their agitation if the problem is not resolved.

Today a special meeting was called by the Bicholim mamletdar, Pravinjay Pandit at Sal to resolve the water crisis of the villagers. During the meeting the villagers told that eventhough there is a pumping station and a dam in their village they were not supplied water for several days. “Since last three days there is no water supply in the village and we are forced to take water from the irrigation cannels.” Social worker and congress leader, Meghasham Raut told. 

The villagers told that the government machinery is totally responsible for the problem in the village. They asked as to how the water supply is restored after their agitation on the Assonora water treatment plant. During the meeting Meghasham Raut disclosed that earlier government was demanding only 500 sqmts of land for the mini-water treatment plant but now are demanding 4000 sqmts of land which proves that government is not concerned with the welfare of the Sal villagers.

The villagers told that till their demand for water is not met they would not let the authorities to lay the plates of the dam. Atlast the villagers and the authorities came to the consensuses to lay only 4 plates on the dam. The villagers demanded that the area of Sal rehabilitation should get atleast 5-hours of water every day. The question of irrigation water also came up for discussion and the villagers demanded that the authorities should supply water from the Sal dam, as the arrangements have already been made for the same. They told that they cannot totally rely on the Tillari water. 

The authorities present for the meeting asked for 15-days period to look into the demands of the villagers. The villagers warned that if the problem of water in the village is not solved they would further intensify their agitation. 

Officers of PWD including Rumin Barreto; Vasudev Parab; WRD officers, Arun Naik, Vivek Parab, Abhijit Naik. Sal sarpanch, Prakash Raut and other panch members were present for the discussion.