Panaji, May 22 (IANS): The Goa Medical College (GMC), the state's top health facility, regularly faces water shortage because people steal taps installed in the hospital premises, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Tuesday.

The water shortage is putting patients and their kin to hardships, especially during the scorching summer season.

"The reason why there is water shortage is because people keep stealing taps. The water just gushes out. There is no shortage of water at the hospital premises otherwise," Parrikar told reporters. He claimed that the theft kept recurring despite new taps being installed.

The chief minister added that all employees and patients' kin working or visiting the hospital would soon be frisked by security guards to ensure that such thefts do not occur again and water is available regularly at the medical facility, located on the outskirts of Panaji.

The GMC requires 1,000 cubic metres of water everyday.