Panaji: With the southwest monsoon yet to fully revive over Goa, the state government has assured citizens that there is sufficient drinking water available to meet the needs of the population for approximately one more month. However, officials have cautioned that reservoir levels have fallen considerably due to the prolonged dry spell and have urged people to use water judiciously.
Water Supply Minister Subhash Phal Desai said that although the water levels in several reservoirs across the state have dropped sharply, there is no immediate reason for panic. He stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and will issue strict advisories to prevent wastage and ensure that the available reserves last until the monsoon gains momentum.
“People should not panic. At present, there is enough water to meet the state’s requirements for another month,” the minister said, adding that he has been receiving numerous inquiries from residents, commercial establishments and industries regarding the status of water availability.
Phal Desai said his department will soon hold a joint review meeting with Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar and senior officials to assess the latest data on water levels in various dams and reservoirs across Goa. He noted that improvements made to the state’s water distribution network have helped in managing supplies efficiently and have played a key role in avoiding shortages during the peak summer months.
“Right now there is no scarcity, but that does not mean the situation cannot become challenging in the future if rains continue to remain weak,” he warned.
Providing details of the major reservoirs, the minister said that the Selaulim Dam, which supplies water to the entire South Goa district and parts of North Goa, is currently at around 27 per cent capacity. The dam has a water treatment capacity of 280 million litres per day (MLD) and remains the state’s largest source of drinking water.
The situation is more concerning at the Anjunem Dam in Sattari taluka, where water levels have fallen to just 9.9 per cent. The dam, located near the Goa-Karnataka border, supplies around 50 MLD of water through treatment plants at Padoshe and Dattawadi.
Meanwhile, the Mhaisal Dam near Shiroda in Ponda taluka is presently at 19 per cent capacity and has a daily water supply capability of around 10 to 14 MLD.
The minister, however, said there is no immediate concern for residents of Canacona as the Chapoli Dam, which has a treatment capacity of 15 MLD, continues to have adequate water reserves. Similarly, the Amthane Reservoir in North Goa has sufficient stock to cater to the requirements of Bardez taluka.
Phal Desai expressed hope that the situation would improve soon, citing forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has predicted that monsoon activity is likely to resume by next weekend and continue thereafter. Until then, the government is expected to focus on water conservation measures and closely monitor the state’s reservoir levels to avoid any disruption in drinking water supply.
