Goa: Govind Gaude takes a dig at Dhavalikar over water shortage

PANAJI: Minister for art and culture Govind Gaude on Monday came out in support of public works minister Deepak Pauskar’s statement that the water-pipeline breakdown was due to negligence.
Four days ago, due to heavy rains, two main pipelines along with the embankment were washed away resulting in taps going dry in Tiswadi and parts of Ponda. Water supply to Taleigao, Cumbharjua, St Cruz, St Andre and part of Priol and Marcaim constituencies was also affected.
PWD(national highways) engineers themselves were partly responsible for the main water pipeline getting washed away since they were aware that the main pipeline had developed minor cracks, Pauskar had said. “There was a statement made about negligence of the engineers. I also support the statement,” Gaude said.
He added that it was lethargy on part of the PWD that resulted in the problem and took a dig at former PWD minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar without mentioning his name.
“Whenever a minister is in power for a long time, even the engineers in that department develop an ego. This is what I’ve seen. We cannot blame the rainfall all the time. The ministers are not aware of the technology we use to tackle such forces of nature. It is the duty of those engineers to give suggestions of new technology. One man cannot be a master in every field. The entire governing system must be changed,” he said.
“I cannot interfere in someone else’s department. But I am answerable in my constituency, so I will hold each and every department responsible,” he added.
He also condemned the department for not developing infrastructure before letting heavy vehicles on the Margao-Panaji route. “Heavy vehicular traffic passes from Margao to Panaji and vice versa. They should develop temporary infrastructure wherever possible.” the art and culture minister said.