Chapora residents protest against water shortage

Calangute: A large group of Chapora residents gathered at the PWD office in Mapusa on Friday to complain about not receiving drinking water for several days at a stretch in the ward.“For the last week, we have not had a single drop to drink. Sometimes we get water for one day, and then for the next five days there is not a drop of water. This has been going on for years,” a resident of Zorwaddo said.Residents of Ward 5, Zorwaddo, in Chapora alleged they do not receive PWD water for days because the water has been diverted to large resorts through “oversized” connections.In a letter to the PWD office in Mapusa, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) said residents of Zorwaddo get water once in five days and though they have repeatedly complained about this to the PWD, there has been no improvement in the situation.On Friday, AAP workers, along with residents, visited the PWD office in Mapusa to highlight their problem.AAP workers said there is “gross mismanagement” of the PWD water supply, claiming that unauthorised, oversized connections to commercial units have worsened the situation, and demanded an inquiry. While the commercial units get regular water, villagers are forced to depend on expensive water tankers, they said.