Relief for Zarme as PWD devises water supply plan

PANAJI: A day after irate villagers of Zarme in Sattari taluka lodged a police complaint against state authorities for not providing them with adequate water, officials of the public works department (PWD) said they would regulate supply through staggered timings. As such, some parts of Zarme will be provided water during the day while the rest will get supply in the evenings.
“Tanker water is supplied to the village, barring some houses that are located on steep gradients where tankers can’t go. We also noticed that a number of houses are connected directly to the water tank in the area and receive supply through the day while others are deprived. This direct supply will now be stopped. Water must go from the tank to a secondary storage facility and from there to each house,” a PWD official said.
The village’s ageing water pipeline, another reason for poor supply, will be replaced by a new network with a higher capacity after the model code of conduct is lifted, the official said.
Zarme’s water situation was reviewed by the PWD at a meeting called by Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane on Friday. Officials said only two wards of the village have had to grapple with severe shortage.
Across the state, the PWD has decided to provide controlled supply to areas that get water for longer hours. This water is then diverted to areas that suffer severe shortage. The use of valve control, officials said, helps rationalise water supply across Goa in the summer months so that tail-ends do not suffer.