Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 11: The Goa government has revised its plans to shut both Tillari canals for major repairs, deciding to defer the closure of the left bank canal until March 2027, despite maintaining that the state has sufficient raw water reserves amid deficient rainfall.

The right bank canal supplying water to Goa was shut on October 20, while the left bank canal was originally scheduled to be closed 15 days later. However, the government has now informed Maharashtra officials that the second canal will remain operational this year. A decision on its closure will be taken only in March 2027.

Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar had earlier announced that supplies through both Tillari canals would be stopped from October 1 for three months to facilitate major repairs. He had pointed out that the canals had deteriorated over the past 30 years, particularly along the Maharashtra stretch.

However, engineers overseeing the Tillari project were subsequently informed that only the right bank canal would be shut from October 20. This was because the new pumping house at Sal, planned as a backup arrangement to supply water to Bardez, Bicholim and Pernem, would not be ready by October 1 due to technical issues.

The work order for repairs to the right bank canal had been pending since January 2026. Water supply through the canal is expected to resume in January 2027.

The repair work will involve lining the canals with 15-cm-thick reinforced concrete. The right bank canal stretches 24 km, while the left bank canal is 18 km long.

The Tillari irrigation project at Dodamarg in Maharashtra supplies around 73 per cent of the water used by Goa for drinking and irrigation purposes. The remaining water from the project is utilised exclusively for irrigation in Maharashtra.

While the canal stretches in Maharashtra have developed leakages over the years, the sections on the Goa side have already undergone repairs and maintenance.

The repair works have been pending for the past five to six years. Goa had been waiting to put alternative arrangements in place before undertaking the prolonged closure, as Tillari water caters to drinking water requirements in Bardez and parts of Pernem and Bicholim talukas.