Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Aug 4: Despite recording a rainfall deficit of over 30 per cent during the first two months of the southwest monsoon, three major reservoirs in Goa have reached full storage capacity, Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar said.
The Selaulim, Panchawadi and Gaunem reservoirs are now at 100 per cent capacity, while Tillari and Amthane have reached 85 per cent. Anjunem and Chapoli reservoirs have crossed the 65 per cent mark.
Shirodkar expressed confidence that all reservoirs in the state would reach full capacity by August 15 as rainfall has intensified in recent days.
He said the WRD would closely monitor the water situation to ensure there is no shortage in the coming months.
Selaulim reservoir, Goa's largest and the main source of drinking water for South Goa, began overflowing at 3.30 pm on July 30, marking its latest spillover in 13 years. Last year, the reservoir overflowed on June 25, while it normally reaches that stage during the first or second week of July.
The reservoir's duckbill spillway is designed to discharge up to 1,450 cubic metres of water per second. Excess water flows into the Selaulim river and is utilised for irrigation. The reservoir has a water spread area of 24 sq km.
Anjunem reservoir, which is currently around 66 per cent full, is the only dam in Goa equipped with manually operated gates.
Tillari reservoir, located in Maharashtra and supplying water to parts of Goa, has reached 85 per cent capacity. Its manually operated gates are opened to release excess water once storage exceeds 93 per cent.
Shirodkar said the department would closely monitor rainfall during August and may close bandhara gates earlier than the usual November schedule if the monsoon remains weak, in a bid to conserve water.
The minister also said the government has sought a detailed report on the proposed Sancoale dam and Davorlim lake projects following concerns over alleged land conversion. Officials of the WRD and the Department of Water Development will jointly inspect the sites.
He added that Goa's water treatment capacity is expected to increase by nearly 50 per cent by next year with the commissioning of new treatment plants adding a combined capacity of 325 million litres per day (MLD). This will raise the state's total treatment capacity to around 1,000 MLD, exceeding the current daily drinking water requirement of about 700 MLD.