Environment

Looming water crises in the village of Cola (Khola), Goa 

Sisters Mayawati and Chandravati Velip are residents of Matvem, one of the seven wards in the jurisdiction of the Cola panchayat. Both are members of a mahila mandal comprising of 23 members and run a humble eatery in the area. What irks them is the acute water crises faced by villagers. Leela Velip is another member of the Adinath mahila mandal, and a resident of Govonn which faces chronic water shortage. More wards, including Saleri,  Cajumoll, Kudai, Ambdem, Ghanne, Govol and Cabo De Rama too are affected by the dry spell. The most affected ward due to water shortage is Matvem which has a polulation of some 1200 people, the sisters informed.

Paucity of water resources in several wards of Cola village has assumed chronic nature with residents flaying the authorities for failing to redress the problem. The village grapples with water paucity, throughout the year, but face acute crises in the months starting February to June. A group of villagers told GT that despite tall claim made by authorities of providing hassle free supply of safe drinking water in the village, the villagers are still living in dry conditions. Narrating villagers woes, Kuddi resident, Chandru Velip told GT that a pipeline installed in the village years ago has outlived its utility, causing miseries to villagers.

Leela Velip further alleged that the few bore wells in the village, espcecially in Cabo-de-Rama ward have become victims of mismanagement causing the water crisis to deepen in various parts of the village. Furthermore, she says that people here have gained access to basic drinking water but the source does not necessarily provide safe water thus putting the health of people – especially young children – at risk for diseases, such as diarrhoea. "There is also a fear of consuming contaminated water as most natural sources are polluted. We have to decide between using the little available fit-to-drink water for drinking and cooking or for sanitation such as washing clothes and taking bath," she adds.

"The misery of going through your day without access to clean, safe water in your home for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing whenever you need it, is untold. Women in the village face the challenge of providing water to the family. And the task is huge," laments Mayawati. An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water has been posing health risks besides challenges for women and girls, even as well-intentioned programs to bring water to places in need continue to fail to meet their goals. "Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege. These are some of the most basic requirements of a human and the government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them,” adds Leela.

Nevertheless, some villagers lauded the efforts of the parliamentarian South Goa MP Adv. Narendra Sawaikar to help villagers tide over the water crises by building bandharas to boost irrigation of red chilly plantations and developing a couple of lakes in the village. "These projects help the villagers to tide over the water crises in some parts of the village," tells Anand Prabhudesai.

Sarpanch Purna Nayak told GT that the work of the first phase of the water supply project from Selaulim dam will take care of Kuddi and other areas. "The second phase will take care of another three wards. Thus the entire village will be water sufficient within a year," she said. Sawaikar told GT that his efforts are significantly focussed on upgrading the standard and quality of life of the villagers of Cola and steps have been initiated to improve basic amenities and enhance human development. While expressing confidence that the problem of water will be tackled within a few months, he said that the augmentation of water supply schemes including the Rs. 7 crore pipeline from Ambaulim, Quepem to Quitol to Pirwada, Betul will solve the water woes of the villagers.

PWD officials informed the 400mm dia DI pipeline will be tapped from the main Selaulim water pipeline at Ambaulim and will directly feed the existing 250m3 sump at Nayaband pump house at Balli covering a distance of 8km and will cater to around  34,000 residents. The foundation stone was laid early this month, informed the official.

Courtesy: EVESCAPE Women Features, Goa

(This article appeared on Weekender, Goa on March 17, 2019)