PANAJI
Even as the Goa government orders an inquiry into a major lapse by the Water Resources Department (WRD) in failing to release water from the Amthane dam on time, a deep failure has come to light.
Government sources revealed to The Goan that engineers were aware for over six months that the dam’s gate was in a state of decay, yet no action had been taken to fix it.
The crisis extends beyond Amthane as other reservoirs including Anjunem and Selaulim, are reportedly leaking with Anjunem’s gates said to be rusted. Meanwhile, at Panchawadi and Gaunem, authorities reportedly do not release the water that could otherwise be used to promote agriculture.
“We have sufficient water stock but stagnation in these two reservoirs has led to the growth of algae and moss, which makes it useless. Such neglect also leads to decay of reservoir infrastructure,” the source revealed.
At Amthane, the situation turned critical when WRD officials attempted to open the gates to supply water to the Assonora plant, only to find them jammed. The resulting delay caused disruptions. Sources stated that the gates, which are submerged, are supposed to be operated every three months to prevent rusting.
“Dam gates must be used at least once every three months to ensure they remain functional,” the source explained, adding, “However, at Amthane, they haven't been used for several years or probably since installation. The collapse was noticed in June-July 2024, when excess monsoon water had to be released. Since then, discussions have taken place but no repairs have been implemented.”
The source further explained that the gate’s nut-and-bolt system should be regularly greased and oiled to prevent corrosion besides proper maintenance of the overall infrastructure.
Adding to the controversy, a dam safety panel appointed by the State government visited Goa last month, yet these structural defects were allegedly not brought to their notice or a thorough inspection was carried out.
Sources said that the CM-ordered inquiry which is being conducted by the higher-ups will quiz the concerned engineers for the alleged neglect. "All these aspects will also be brought to the notice of the inquiry officer," the source added.
Earlier last year, the CWC inspected the Anjunem Dam under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), allocating Rs 58 crore to enhance safety and performance.
The Goan tried contacting WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar on the issue, however he remained unavailable for comment.