MARGAO, May 5 -- Team Herald

The government's sudden scrapping of the scheme providing 16,000 litres of free water per household each month has intensified public anger across Goa.

The decision has provoked strong condemnation from the civil society and local leaders, who have denounced it as unjust, undemocratic, and detrimental to the welfare of the people.

Criticising the move, youth leader Prabhav Naik termed it "a betrayal of public trust".

He questioned the government's priorities, saying, "It is ironic that while the Central Government makes headlines talking about stopping water to Pakistan to send a message, the Goa government is punishing its own people by denying them access to something as essential as water. We Goans are ...