Water pipeline at St Cruz fixed, supply to start today

PANAJI: The water pipeline that broke down at St Cruz junction on Thursday was repaired by 10pm on Friday. Since the pipeline has been dry for 10 days, PWD began to gradually release water and remove air pockets in the pipeline.
The areas of Bambolim, Curca, Siridao, Cacra and Alto St Cruz will have to wait till mid-day Saturday to receive water. “Water will be released to GMC on priority and after that the surrounding villages will get water,” a PWD engineer said.
A team of MVR Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, the road contractor undertaking road widening and construction of the overpass at the St Cruz signal junction, helped PWD engineers complete the work on war footing.
In order to excavate the damaged portion of the 400mm water pipeline, the contractor had to remove the earth filling that was put in place for the overpass ramp.
“Action should be taken against the contractor for negligence. When a contract is taken up, utility services have to be shifted. PWD had told them to shift the pipeline, but they did not listen,” St Cruz MLA Antonio Fernandes said.
The ductile iron water pipeline runs approximately 1m under NH66. While PWD, which has been lax in shifting the pipeline, has held the contractor accountable, locals have blamed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD and the contractor.
Former St Cruz sarpanch Mariano De Araujo said that there is no coordination between the agencies. “This road widening is for NHAI and PWD knew that the water pipeline has to be shifted, but they are not talking to each other when they take up works. Otherwise, how was the contractor allowed to start the overpass and highway work?” Araujo said.
Since ground level reservoirs have been empty, it will take a few hours for the tanks to be filled up and only after that will water be released to the residents.
PWD minister Deepak Pauskar visited the site and took stock of the repair work. “He has promised us that action will be taken,” Fernandes said.
Meanwhile, several residents of Carambolim, Old Goa, Cumbarjua and Marcel continued to remain without water. PWD repaired the 750mm water pipeline and released water on Friday morning, but those who received water said that the supply was inadequate.