Daijiworld Media Network – Canacona
Canacona, May 19: Severe water scarcity has forced residents of Ziltawadi and nearby villages in Goa’s Canacona taluka to dig pits in riverbeds and streambeds to collect water for daily use as wells have dried up weeks before peak summer.
Residents of Ziltawadi, a forest village in Gaondongrim, said the crisis began as early as March when wells across the area started running dry. In the hilly parts of southern Goa, tap water supply reportedly remains irregular throughout the year and worsens further during summer.
Villagers said tanker water is being supplied, but many residents consider it unsuitable for drinking purposes. As a result, families now travel nearly a kilometre every evening to fetch water from pits dug in nearby streams and riverbeds, carrying pots on bicycles and two-wheelers.
Ashok Gaonkar, a local resident, said collecting water from riverbeds has become a daily routine that will continue until the arrival of monsoon rains.
The water shortage has also affected several other parts of Gaondongrim and neighbouring Cotigao villages.
Residents said tanker supply provided on alternate days is insufficient, especially for households dependent on cattle rearing for livelihood.
Rajesh Gaonkar said families are struggling to manage both household needs and water requirements for livestock, leaving them with no option but to dig riverbeds for water.
Former sarpanch and current panch Yeshwant ‘Dhillon’ Desai said the tanker supply itself is inadequate in many interior areas, including Bhupor and Indrawada, where poor road access allows tankers to reach only twice a week.
Another villager, Abolem Velip, said the limited water available must be shared with cattle, worsening the hardship faced by local families.
Residents also expressed concern over large-scale wastage of treated water due to recurring pipeline leakages in other parts of Canacona.
Former Shristhal sarpanch Kisanrao Gaonkar alleged that leakages and pipeline bursts in areas such as Mokhard, Char Rasta, Shristhal and Mastimol are resulting in the loss of thousands of litres of water daily even as many villages continue to face severe shortages.
Locals pointed out that the crisis is particularly frustrating because water is reportedly available in the Chapoli and Gaunem reservoirs located in Gaondongrim.
WRD Assistant Engineer Dhananjay Nagvekar reportedly confirmed the availability of water in both reservoirs. However, villagers claimed that repeated pipeline leakages and delays in repairs continue to disrupt supply, forcing many rural families to endure another difficult summer.