1.5 lakh households will get free water from Sept: govt

Those using water above 16 units per month will get first 16 units free; they will be charged as per existing slabs for water consumption above 16 units

Panaji : The government on Monday stated that nearly half of the total water consuming households in the state will not have to pay any water charges from September 1, 2021.

Coming out with this information,   Public Works Minister Deepak Pauskar said that in Goa, around 1.5 lakh water consuming households out of the total 3.18 lakh water consuming households use water between 0 to 16 units.

“And with the state government announcing free water scheme up to 16 units per month, these 1.5 lakh water consuming households that is 47.77 per cent of the total such households will not be charged for water from next month,” he revealed.

“The remaining 1,68,000 water consuming households, which use water above 16 units per month, will get first 16 units free and they would be charged as per the existing slabs for the water used above 16 units,” Pauskar explained.

He further stated that those water consumers having outstanding water bills can avail the one-time settlement scheme, which is currently in force, so as to clear the outstanding amount.

Stating that there is plenty of water in Goa, Pauskar  said the state  currently needs 600 MLD treated water every day.

“As of now, 530 MLD water is being treated in the state, and we further need to treat additional 70 MLD water,” he said, assuring that in coming seven  to eight  months, the  public works department will  be able to generate 600 MLD water, thus taking care of the water shortfall.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced in his Independence Day speech that the every Goan household will get 16,000 litres of free water supply beginning from September, 2021.

The  Public Works Minister also stated that by December his department will complete all works related to highways.

“The existing tar on roads needs to be removed before we put concrete on the highways, and hence the public will face the inconvenience as regards potholes on national highways for just next three months,” he pointed out.

Pauskar also disclosed that the related work is currently under process, and that there are no potholes on the road which begins from Atal Setu to Goa Velha.

“The other works related to roads would be completed by March 2022,” he maintained, adding that August 24 onwards  PWD contractors will start filling up potholes.