Panaji: Due to a deficit in rainfall, water levels at the Anjunem dam in Sattari have dropped to 10% of capacity. However, on Tuesday, WRD chief engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar told TOI that the water available in the dam at present is sufficient to meet the requirement for up to 30 days. He said that more than 30 days’ storage is available in other dams in the state.
The chief engineer said that dead storage will be tapped of the Anjunem dam to meet the supply requirement.
“At present there is 490 ha m or 8m of water available, which can meet the requirement for 30 days. Pumps will be fitted and water pumped for drinking requirements. Irrigation supply has been stopped and we only need to meet drinking needs. Besides the dam, there is 2MLD jackwell in Keri and another 84MLD capacity at Podoshem,” he said.
He said that Selaulim with 28% storage has sufficient water available to meet most of South Goa’s requirements.
Amthane reservoir in Bardez has 52% water level, with additional water utilised from Chapora river to meet the requirement in Bardez, parts of Bicholim and Pernem talukas. The Tillari reservoir, which serves as the supplemental supply for these areas, is at 30% of capacity. “Water was pumped in from two mining pits and now the Khandepar barrage is full. So, the pumping has stopped. With this there is sufficient supply for Tiswadi and Ponda talukas. The Mhaisal level is also good enough,” said a WRD official.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant had reviewed the situation earlier in the week, in view of the weak rainfall activity in Goa despite the arrival of the monsoon. The CM had also said that if measures are not put in place at present, it could lead to shortage next year in the months prior to the summer.
