PANAJI: Most of Bardez taluka will receive restricted water supply on Wednesday and Thursday, after a 1,000mm underground water pipeline burst at Karaswada on Tuesday morning. The damage was caused during the ongoing highway widening work at Karaswada. This is the third such incident in six months of the pipeline bursting on this stretch for the same reason.
Tuesday’s incident occurred at around 10.30am near the Karaswada petrol pump. PWD officials later took up repair works and the damage was fixed by late Tuesday evening.
“However, puncture to the pipeline causes delay in the supply network and it takes time for the supply chain to normalise. Water supply will be restored by Wednesday, though it will be restricted,” a PWD official said.
Mapusa, Porvorim, Aldona, parts of Saligao and parts of Calangute and surrounding areas will be affected due to the damage.
Mapusa locals, however, blamed the contractor of the highway expansion work for the recurring damage to the water supply pipeline.
“Over the last six months, this is the third time such damage by the contractor has taken place on the Karaswada junction to Binani road stretch. And, if you consider the stretch from Guirim up to Karaswada junction, this is the fifth time the pipeline has been damaged by the roadworks contractor at different spots on the same pipeline stretch,” a Mapusa local said.
The 1,000mm pipeline carries water from the Assonora water treatment plant towards Karaswada and from here the water is distributed to almost the whole of Bardez.
“The contractor for the roadworks is completely negligent while carrying out the digging work. It appears that the digging is being carried out carelessly without bothering to locate where water pipelines are. It is high time the PWD penalises the contractor or takes some corrective measures,” said a Porvorim resident.
Meanwhile, parts of Ponda and Tiswadi taluka will also receive restricted water supply on Wednesday and Thursday. Work of replacing expansion joints on the Banastarim bridge is being taken up on Wednesday, due to which the conveying water supply pipelines will be non-operational for the day from 9am to 5pm.
As a result, Cumbharjua, Panaji, Taleigao, Santa Cruz and St Andre along with parts of Priol and Marcaim constituencies, including defence establishments and Goa Medical College will receive restricted water supply on March 24 and 25.