MAPUSA: With summer season already begun, the water requirement has gone up and amidst a water scarcity in Mapusa and other parts of Bardez, the PWD has allayed all possible fears regarding water scarcity and has maintained that there is sufficient water for the next two critical summer months for Bardez.

However, in view of the demand, the new water connections in Bardez have been put on hold till the onset of the monsoon.

Officials from the PWD, whom this reporter contacted, maintained that there is absolutely no water scarcity in Bardez, but the water scarcity has been caused due to frequent power failures that cause a time gap in pumping and supplying water to the entire taluka.

Bardez presently has water requirement of 62 MLD, however, the actual water being supplied is 52 MLD that is slightly less than the requirement.

Officials, however, said that this deficient 10 MLD supply is somehow managed and on the whole the water supply is normal and adequate for fulfilling the needs of all.

The main water supply coming to Bardez is from the Assonora water treatment plant from where 42 MLD of water is treated and pumped to Bardez. This also involves 30 MLD untreated water from Tillari that is treated at Assonora.

Apart from this, 20 MLD water from Padoxem plant and 5 MLD water from Amthane is also supplied to Bardez. The Padoxem water supplied to Bardez is ‘clear water’.

The officials said that amidst all this supply that Bardez is receiving there should not be any reason for water scarcity even in the next two months.

However, the officials pointed out that regular power failures at the pumping stations or treatment plants play spoilsport and due to this the water supply is affected to certain areas.

Assistant engineer of Mapusa, Mr Surlekar, meanwhile, when contacted regarding water scarcity in Mapusa, said that in some parts of Mapusa there are some problems that are either solved or are in the process of getting solved.

He said that ever since he assumed office at Mapusa he has tried to improve the water scenario in Mapusa where many people had been complaining that they were not receiving water for many days or months.

Nonetheless, Mr Surlekar said that wherever there is water scarcity tanker water is being supplied regularly to tide over the crisis.

Officials also claimed that the new water treatment plant of 50 MLD coming up at Assonora will also give a boost to the water supply of Bardez.