Come each summer and Goa's attention is drawn towards the dwindling water levels at the reservoirs which cater to the State's domestic and commercial water needs. This year it has been no different. In fact, it is worse with the two main canals bringing in raw water from the Tillari reservoir in Dodamarg under repairs. Yet, the hierarchy at Water Resources Department headed by Minister Subhash Shirodkar is confident there will be no shortage until mid-June, by which time the rains will have arrived and the reservoirs replenished. At another level, the Public Works Department, which manages the water treatment plants and distribution of potable water to ground-level reservoirs and overhead tanks for onward supply to end users, faces its logistical problems in the summer months. Several areas particularly in North Goa are facing acute problems but officials are confident that despite the challenges and sporadic hiccups such as breakdowns and pipeline bursts, piped water will reach consumers through the summer.
Water levels in reservoirs across Goa are receding owing to higher rates of evaporation in the summer. The problem is particularly acute in the reservoirs of North Goa and although the situation is keeping officials at the Water Resources Department (WRD) on their toes, the top hierarchy including WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar are confident that the nearly half-a-dozen big reservoirs will meet the needs of the State for the next two months before the monsoon hits.
The three big dams and their reservoirs in North Goa -- Anjunem, Amthane and Opa-Khandepar -- are all reporting lower levels of water than those reported around the same time in the three previous years, since early March. This year the problem has aggravated as the Maharashtra government has shut down two of the major canals which bring in raw water from the Tillari project for long-term repair and maintenance work.
Also, unlike 2021-22, when Goa witnessed freak post-monsoon rains in almost every month of that year, there have been no rains mostly attributed to climate change this year further aiding the receding levels at the reservoirs in the monsoon months, WRD engineers claimed.
Anjunem, Amthane
reservoirs status
Since early March, the levels of water in the reservoirs at Anjunem and Amthane have been reporting levels between 25 and 55 per cent of their capacities.
Anjunem caters to Sattari, Bicholim and parts of Bardez and had been reporting 26% levels since mid-March. The shortfall is being met by the WRD officials from the Amthane reservoir.
Although the levels at Amthane too are below past records, WRD officials said water is being pumped into the reservoir from the Chapora river which has been the saving grace so far.
Tillari shut for repairs
The reservoir of Maharashtra government's Tillari dam at Dodamarg is facing no such crisis of falling water levels but very little quantity, if any, is available for Goa this year which has a perpetual agreement with the neighbouring State since 1990 when it contributed a significant share of the project's cost.
Unfortunately, the Maharashtra government has this year taken up major repair and maintenance work on the two main canals which carry the Tillari water into Goa. Consequently, Goa is unable to utilise much of the Tillari water during these summer months.
Goa is getting a "very small" quantity of raw water supply from the Tillari reservoir according to WRD officials.
Opa-Khandepar: How
levels are pumped up
One of the bigger reservoirs is the one at Opa fed by the Khandepar river. It caters to the heavily populated and large talukas of Ponda and Tiswadi and perennially faces a crisis in the summer months.
This year, the levels at Opa fell below the 4-metre mark in mid-March. According to WRD officials, the extreme heat has contributed to a higher rate of evaporation.
"In previous years, we witnessed unseasonal rains often which helped replenish the reservoirs. It has not been the case this year," the official said.
Catering to a significantly large and populous area of Ponda and Tiswadi talukas, the PWD manages five treatment plants drawing nearly 160 MLD of water from the reservoir. What saves the day for the Opa reservoir is the fact that WRD replenishes it by pumping water into it from bhandaras in Ganjem and Selaulim.
It has been a standard practice in the summer months for several years now that water is pumped into the Opa reservoir from Selaulim and from the Ganjem water scheme. Over 70 MLD is pumped into the Khandepar river which feeds the Opa reservoir.
The WRD also pumps about 50 MLD from the Selaulim reservoir into the Khalay river in Sanguem which in turn flows down into the Opa reservoir. Thus between Ganjem and Selaulim, around 120 MLD is pumped into Opa daily. Opa also has a reserve supply from the numerous bhandaras along the Khandepar river.
Bhandaras the way
forward: Shirodkar
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar is confident that despite the dwindling levels at the reservoirs, the raw water situation is manageable and the State will make it through the rest of the summer well into the middle of June.
"We are monitoring the situation. The raw water will suffice until mid-June," he said.
"But we need to buck up for worst-case scenarios in the future," Shirodkar admitted, adding that the department will add another at least 100 'vasant bhandaras' by the end of this year itself.
It is water stored in these bandharas (small check-dams) that comes in handy and is tapped in the dry summer months.
Shirodkar's claim of 100 new 'vasant bandharas' by the end of this year does have the backing of the budget presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Sawant's allocation for the WRD has factored in the summer water crisis and proposes three new projects at Nirankal, Cajumol and Tatodi all in the Mhadei basin.
Other budgetary proposals include the carry forward of last year's plan to rejuvenate 150 water bodies, including small rivers and lakes.
But these are budgets on paper and the key lies in making the funds available in a timely manner and the WRD executing the work on the ground.
