Daijiworld News Network's special correspondent

Panaji, Jan 17: Goa government is working out modalities to tide over the increasing water wastage in the state which burdens the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 15 crores annually.

Worn out meters, leakages and illegal connections have baffled the state public works department which puts the unbilled water to the tune of 35 per cent in this coastal state which has 1.80 lac tap connections.

"We have formed a five-member committee to study the reasons behind such a huge amount of unbilled water,'' stated public works department minister Sudin Dhavlikar. This committee, according to the minister, would locate the worn-out meters, non-functional meters, leakages and other reasons.

The state government has also decided to crack down on largely misused public taps in the state. "The public taps have come down from 15,000 in the year 1994 to mere 8,000 in 2005,'' stated Dhavlikar.

The PWD has begun giving free tap connections to the people covered with the public taps. "Connections are free but water would be billed,'' clarified Dhavlikar.

The department which has taken up a massive drive to check non-functional meters have replaced 14,000 meters in the last six months and the number is increasing every passing day.

The state is worried over the possible water crisis, which they may have to face in the years to come. According to the PWD figures, state treats and supplies 394 MLD of water through its seven treatment plants to 1.8 lac consumers which includes 26,000 industrial connections.

The state government has also altered the water tariff in the recent days which will make bigger consumers pay more without affecting the domestic consumers who judiciously use water, informed the minister.