Ponda: Department of drinking water (DDW) officials in Ponda faced their second gherao in four days on Friday as residents protested acute water scarcity at the Daag-Ponda office.This time, residents of Talem-Bondbag cornered the officials. On Monday, residents of Sapana Colony in Bethora had staged a similar protest and threatened to launch a “ghagar morcha”.Friday’s protest was led by BJP South Goa secretary Vishwanath Dalvi.The Congress criticised BJP, saying the participation of its own office-bearer in the agitation reflected the ruling party’s failure to address the issue. Ponda Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar urged Dalvi to resign from BJP and join Congress in protesting against govt’s failure to ensure regular water supply.Residents said they have been facing irregular water supply for several months despite repeated agitations.During a recent janata darbar in Ponda, chief minister Pramod Sawant had assured residents that the issue would be resolved immediately. However, the problem persists, the protesters said.Dalvi and the agitating residents cornered DDW assistant engineer Kashinath Saraf at the Daag-Ponda office. Later, Dalvi told reporters that the official assured them the problem would be resolved soon.Verenkar said the fact that a BJP leader was leading the protest itself highlighted the party’s failure to provide a basic necessity like water.“BJP has been in power in Goa for the past 15 years and had promised 24×7 water supply, but that promise remains unfulfilled. I want to tell Dalvi that he should resign from BJP. We will protest together for the people,” Verenkar said.
