The cabinet nod for the creation of a dedicated Department for Drinking Water (DDW) is believed to be to improve water supply, however, questions remain whether this move will genuinely alleviate Goa's water woes or whether it is simply a political manoeuvre. The existing discourse points to a serious water supply issue, a crisis where people complain about receiving water for only short periods. With the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's admission of the limitations of the PWD, the establishment of a new department might seem like a solution. However, the effectiveness of the new department depends on several factors.
Firstly, the success of the DDW will depend on effective inter-departmental coordination with the Water Resources Department (WRD) . The allocation of responsibility between these departments raises questions about the overall efficiency of the system. While the government states that the WRD will continue to handle construction and maintenance of dams, and water supply to major drinking water projects, the potential for fragmented responsibility raises doubts. The Chief Minister's assertion that "strict action" will be taken if the WRD fails to deliver on its responsibilities lacks specific details and appears insufficient to monitor effective cooperation and coordination. Under the new protocol, the success or failure of the new department would hinge on the cooperation extended by the WRD.
Secondly, the creation of a new department is seen with skepticism, because the issue primarily is about water scarcity and supply, not manpower. As pointed out, the issues are not merely structural; they are linked to the state of the existing infrastructure, its maintenance besides inefficiencies in management. The government should have addressed these internal problems instead of creating another bureaucratic structure. Thirdly, the creation of the DDW does not guarantee a long-term solution because much would depend on the availability of water. Instead, the government should be talking about water conservation since the State is getting surplus rainfall.
The recent breach in the Tillari pipeline in neighbouring Maharashtra deprived water for the entire Bardez taluka and parts of Bicholim for almost ten days. People were forced to rely on tankers while some less fortunate had to manage with mineral water bought from stores. The situation prompted the chief minister to assure people of at least four hours of water. The question is whether a separate department is needed to deliver the promise.
Lastly, the scale of development does not match up with our resources like water supply. Every time Goa takes a leap forward, the water crisis will only worsen. Today the struggle is to get four hours of daily water, tomorrow it could trickle down to one hour a day. The State is headed for worse times, and which is why, we need more pragmatic solutions based on ground realities, not cosmetic changes.
While the intention to improve water supply may be in the pipeline through enhanced infrastructure, the government needs to ensure that the new DDW doesn't become yet another layer in the bureaucratic system without adding a drop into the bucket of Goans thirsting for their daily water. A more thorough assessment is needed on the existing departments with an emphasis on delivery of services to ascertain whether a separate water department is genuinely a step in the right direction.
