Calangute: The halt in water supply from the interstate Tillari irrigation project for canal repairs since Tuesday has cast a shadow over claims that the under-construction PWD water treatment plant (WTP) at Pilerne will be completed within the next two months and significantly improve water supply in the Calangute and Saligao constituencies. The Pilerne WTP is meant to receive its raw water from the Tillari project.The plant has been long awaited, as Calangute and Saligao lie at the tail end of supply from the Assonora water treatment plant. Many residents continue to face erratic and limited supply. “Many areas in Calangute receive water for barely two hours on alternate days. That’s very difficult for many locals,” said Franzilia Rodrigues, a ZP member.Work on the Pilerne plant has been delayed for various reasons, even though Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had said it would be started by Nov–Dec. He made the statement during the Oct 7 inauguration of the new water pumping station at Calangute, attended by WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Saligao MLA Kedar Naik.Following the inauguration, Shirodkar and Naik conducted a site inspection of the WTP at Pilerne last week. “Water is a major issue in Calangute and Saligao constituencies. The 30MLD water pumping station at Calangute has been commissioned. We hope the 15MLD PWD filtration plant at Pilerne will also be commissioned soon,” Naik said.Lobo said the water pumping station at Boa Viagem, Calangute, will pump raw water up to the WTP at Pilerne. “The raw water brought from Tillari is going to the new 15MLD WTP at Pilerne. It’s at the final stages of being completed. Once this WTP is complete, water will be pumped to Candolim, Pilerne, Betim, Verem, Nerul, and Calangute. It will be a major relief for these areas. All these areas do not get water regularly,” he said.
