According to Goa Human Rights Commission, Public Works Department (PWD) has violated human rights norms by not taking "effective measures for regular supply of water for human consumption" to Assagao's Sonarkhed area.
A complaint was filed last year about the issues faced by residents of Sonarkhed due to the interrupted water supply. The PWD defended themselves by complaining that the high altitude at which Sonarkhed is located and being situated at the tail end of the water distribution system is what caused the water shortage. They also blamed urban and rural developments that is causing increased water consumption.
Back in January 2019, PWD had ordered the work of a borewell in the area to counter the issue. But the work was stalled due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown. "But the work couldn't start due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was commissioned only in Febraury 2021 and now water is supplied to the people of Sonarkhed through the borewell and water purification plants are installed for purifying the water," the PWD stated.
But the borewell has brought more criticism on the PWD as complaints had risen that the newly built borewell was contaminated.
The HR commission has adviced PWD to speed up the work on the new water reservoir at the Dnyanprassarak Mandal's College at Mapusa and installation of a water purifier plant. They have given department 60 days to complete the project. Till then, the commission adviced PWD to supply the residents of Sonarkhed with potable water through the borewell to which the water purification plant is connected.