30 MLD water treatment plant to be set up at Saligao plateau

PORVORIM
The State government has decided to set up a 30 MLD water treatment plant at Saligao plateau, which is expected to benefit the Pilerne Industrial Estate and residents of villages of Saligao, Pilerne, Nerul, Reis Magos, Candolim and Calangute. The project has been assigned to the water resources department.

When contacted, WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami stated the Tillari Irrigation Canal, which has a capacity of 120 MLD to irrigate 700 hectares of land, terminates near the Calangute Police station.

“Due to urbanisation, land under irrigation have reduced not only in Calangute but also in other areas under the canal from Dodamarg to Calangute. This has resulted in surplus water in the canal and the department proposes to use 30 MLD of this for drinking water supply.” “Water from the canal will be tapped at the termination point and pumped to a height of 110 meters to a Master Storage Tank at Pilerne Industrial Estate,” said Badami.

Badami mentioned that the project is estimated at Rs 25 crore and the work order has been issued to a Pune-based firm. “It has been proposed to avail a NABARD loan assistance for this project,” he added.

Badami said the Unichem company in Pilerne Industrial Estate has shown interest and is committed to off take 3 MLD water.

“The company has agreed to pay Rs 4 crore as advance water tax as their production is hampered due to water shortage and restrictions imposed on extraction of ground water by the National Green Tribunal under new ground water guidelines. Another 3 MLD water will be supplied to other industrial units,” said Badami.

Former Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar said the water requriment of Saligao constituency is around 9-12 MLD.

“Since the villages of Reis Magos, Nerul, Pilerne and Saligao are located at the tail end, they do not get sufficient water. In fact, many residents of Reis Magos, Nerul and Pillerne get water once in two days and that too, for an hour. Hence, there was a need for a separate water treatment plant at Saligao.”

“With the commissioning of 30 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Saligao plateau and 15 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Porvorim, residents in these affected areas will receive sufficient water supply,” said Salgaonkar.