Goa consumers demand an efficient & accountable PWD water supply system.

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Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service
& circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network
(GOA CAN)<goacan-0VrrOzQoB60xpvK4C0GaPQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Ph:2252660
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We want efficient, accountable system of water supply network: consumers
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Aggrieved water consumers from different parts of Goa participated
in a protest dharna at Customs House today resolved to fight against
irregularities of Public Works Department (PWD) with regards to supply
of portable water and demanded an efficient and accountable system
of water supply network.

The dharna - Goa PWD water supply consumers protest - began at 10 am
in morning, with consumer shouting slogans denouncing PWD, which they
said for the past three decades have not been doing its duty sincerely.
At the dharna various speakers narrated the problems faced by the consumers
of PWD water supply.

Shubhangi Shirodkar of Candolim, explained how tourism in her area led to
shortage of water supply and the PWD failed to make correct assessment
of water requirement of the region.

Mrs Sevrina Fernandes from Calangute was bitter that despite her several
complaints she and few more houses in the her ward continues to receive
contaminated water. "The PWD people come and take samples of water
however they haven't done anything effectively to stop supply of dirty water,
added Mrs Fernandes.

Mr Kulkarni from Nerul too is frustrated by indifference of PWD official.
Mr Kulkarni told the gathering that since 1996, consistently from January 
to July,
he and many villagers are facing acute water shortage, however PWD has not
taken cognizance of their problem as result frustrated people in Nerul have
cancelled their water connections and have dug wells.

Agnelo Cardozo complained that in Curca, Bambolim, Talaulim ,
many a times people are supplied with contaminated water.
Consumer also complained that a large number of meters are declared
as "not working" or "damaged". These meters are not being repaired
nor replaced by the PWD.

Many water meters are now functioning as 'Air meters' as they move due
to the momentum of the air gushing through the pipes.Consumers are being
billed with "minimum charges" plus `meter rent' although they have not 
received
a drop of water.

The map of the network of water pipes in the village is not available
in the Panchayat resulting in consumers getting sewage water in their
PWD pipelines (eg. the recent case in Calangute).

There is no transparency with regards the duties and responsibilities of the
PWD officials. Public taps are being misused and in some cases privatised.
No monitoring of the same is being done by the PWD officials neither is the
same reviewed at the village Gram Sabha.

Free water connections are being continuously being released by the PWD
although it cannot guarantee water supply to its existing paying commercial
and domestic consumers.

Local panchayats are not being consulted in laying of pipelines passing 
through
the village resulting in waste of tax payers money. Senior PWD officials don't
organise customer meetings to get feedback from the consumers on their 
services.

During the dharna consumers demanded that PWD should initiate immediate
program to repair and replace all water meters. Follow the 1988 circular on
rebate on tariff and rent so no payment of minimum charges and meter rent
if there is no water supply, the billing format must be revised to include 
details
of current meter reading.

At the meet the consumers demanded the following. Compulsory display of water
pipeline network maps in the Panchayats and Municipal Councils; fixing 
daily/weekly
time for redressal of consumer complaints with junior & assistant engineers,
senior PWD officials must hold consumer open House/Adalats in all talukas;
chief engineer must attend All Goa State Consumer Protection Council meetings
to resolve State level consumer grievances; a status report be prepared
on the supply requirements of domestic and commercial establishments
for each year and the same be made available to the village & Zilla Panchayats
and municipal councils;

an assurance that PWD water will not be supplied to any proposed golf 
course projects;
time bound review and monitoring system for "public taps" and "free water 
connections"
and a PWD water supply system that is transparent and accountable to its 
customers.

The dharna which was held near the Secretariat had participation of volunteers
from consumer forums from the villages of Socorro, Bastora, Calangute, Nerul,
Candolim, Tivim, Saligao, Nuvem, Cuncolim, Navelim, Velim, Curca and Merces,
and was co-ordinated by the Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN).

Among the speakers at the dharna were Valentine Coelho (Socorro),
Muriel D'Souza (Saligao), Vivek Kulkarni (Nerul), Christopher Menezes 
(Bastora),
Joaquim Lobo (Tivim), Ramona Almeida (Velim), Floriano Fernandes (Merces),
Helen Cardozo (Nuvem), Bonny Moraes (Cuncolim)
and A F G Mascarenhas (Navelim).
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HERALD 30/04/03 page 5
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