125MLD water pumped daily to sustain Khandepar river level

Ponda: Anticipating a sharp decline in the Khandepar river water level due to soaring temperatures and intense summer heat, the water resources department (WRD) has been pumping nearly 125 million litres per day (MLD) of water into the river from external sources to maintain adequate levels at the Opa water works.

WRD assistant engineer Sadanand Naik, who oversees maintenance of the Khandepar river level at Opa, said raw water is currently being sourced from the Ganjem bandhara, the Selaulim dam, and mining pits at Codli-Dharbandora before being released into the river to augment its flow.

“This is a routine exercise carried out every summer to ensure uninterrupted water availability,” Naik said.

On Monday, the water level at the Opa basin — the intake point for the Opa water treatment facilities — stood at 3.2m. Officials said the persistent heatwave could cause the river level to fall rapidly if replenishment measures are not continued.

Naik said the WRD has been working round the clock to sustain the river level during the peak summer season.

At present, around 35MLD of water is being pumped from the mining pits of Zarapkar and Vedanta at Codli into the Khandepar river. In addition, nearly 70MLD is being diverted from the Ganjem bandhara, while another 30 MLD is supplied from the Selaulim dam.

To facilitate the transfer of water from Selaulim to Opa, a dedicated 13km-long, 800mm mild steel (MS) pipeline was laid in 2002 between the Selaulim dam and the Kalay river. Meanwhile, assistant engineer at Opa water works, Sunil Shet, said approximately 160MLD of raw water is drawn daily from the river basin for treatment, of which around 153MLD is supplied to consumers.

The Opa water works complex, located in Khandepar, Ponda, comprises five water treatment plants that collectively cater to over 95% of the areas in Ponda and Tiswadi talukas. The supply network covers Panaji, Bambolim, Taleigao, Ribandar, and the entire Ponda taluka.

A total of 11 constituencies—including Panaji, Taleigao, St Andre, and parts of Santa Cruz, Cumbharjua, Priol, Marcaim, Shiroda, Ponda, Valpoi and Sanvordem—across Tiswadi, Ponda and Dharbandora talukas are directly dependent on the Opa water treatment plants for potable water supply.