Bicholim, 1 September: The Goa Government’s Department of Drinking Water has lodged an FIR against a person who allegedly entered a raw water storage tank without authorization, after a video of the incident began circulating on social media.

In a press note issued by the Office of the Executive Engineer, Division III, Department of Drinking Water, Sarvana-Bicholim, the department clarified that the tank seen in the viral video is a raw water tank and that the water stored in it is not supplied directly to consumers.

According to the department, water from the tank is subsequently taken through the filtration process at the Water Treatment Plant, where necessary doses of alum and chlorine are administered. The treated water is then stored in a clear-water tank before being supplied to the public.

The department further stated that daily water-quality testing is carried out and the relevant reports are maintained by the respective office.

Taking serious note of the incident, the department said that water-supply installations are vital public infrastructure and that their safety, security and hygienic condition are of utmost importance.

“Unauthorized entry into any water supply tank or related installation is strictly prohibited,” the department stated, warning that such acts could compromise the security and hygiene of the water-supply system.

It further clarified that no person is permitted to enter such tanks without prior authorization from the competent authority. Following the incident, an FIR has been lodged at the police station against the person who allegedly entered the tank, and further action will be taken in accordance with applicable laws and rules.

The department has also appealed to residents of Keri village not to draw conclusions solely on the basis of the circulated video or spread unverified information that could create unnecessary concern over the quality and safety of drinking water.

The department assured residents that water supplied to the public undergoes the prescribed treatment and quality-control procedures before distribution.