Daijiworld Media Network - Calangute

Calangute, Oct 8: Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar has urged people in Goa to use water judiciously following a poor monsoon, while assuring that the state has sufficient reserves to meet its requirements.

Speaking after inaugurating a new water pumping station at Calangute on Wednesday, Shirodkar said reservoirs would continue to have adequate water despite the low rainfall.

“Even though there has been very little rainfall, even then, at the bare minimum, there will be three months’ water left in May at Selaulim and other reservoirs, enough for May, June, July,” he said.

The minister said the commissioning of the new water treatment plant at Pilerne would improve supply to the Saligao-Candolim-Calangute coastal belt, which is expected to receive 10 hours of water supply daily.

Referring to measures taken since 2022, Shirodkar said the department had increased water availability by establishing pumping stations on the Kushavati and other rivers, where large quantities of water had previously flowed away.

He said Salcete and Quepem were earlier dependent on the Selaulim reservoir, but the new measures had reduced the pressure on it. According to Shirodkar, around 150 MLD of water has been saved at Selaulim every day through these initiatives.

Shirodkar also highlighted the construction of new bandharas to increase water storage. He said he had proposed the construction of 100 new bandharas in 2022, of which around 80 have been completed.

The minister added that he directed WRD engineers on September 25 to complete the remaining structures by October 10.

Emphasising the importance of water conservation, Shirodkar said reservoirs such as Selaulim and Tillari could be maintained at full capacity only through such conservation measures and urged people to make judicious use of available water.