As preventive measure, WRD pumps extra water into the Khandepar river

Ponda: Even though the water level of Khandepar river at Opa Water Works is within the normal range, the water resource department (WRD) has started pumping water from abandoned mining pits and directing it into Khandepar river over the last few days. This is normally done only if the water level of Khandepar river dips below 2.5m. The level of the river was at 3.35m as on Sunday.

Pramod Badami chief engineer, WRD, said that his department is doing so as a preventive measure since there is more loss if water during summer and the effort is “to be prepared for any situation”.

WRD has been pumping water from Vedanta’s mining pit at Codli and Zarapkar mine pit at Satone Dabal in Dharbandora. Altogether 30 million liters per day (MLD) of water is being pumped into Khandepar river daily, Badami said.

The pumping helps to rejuvenate Opa river which will help all five water treatment plants at the Opa ward of Khandepar village in Ponda.

The 152 MLD Opa Water Works had four separate water treatment plants including 8 MLD, 12 MLD, 54 MLD, 40 MLD and 27 MLD plants that collectively supply water to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas.

The water crisis is perennial as the river level goes down during summer and WRD makes arrangements to pump the water from mining pits immediately by hiring pumps and other equipment.

In the last few days, WRD has been continuously pumping water from the mining pits into the Khandepar river with the help of three pumps installed at the mining pits to rejuvenate the Khandepar river basin from which the Opa water treatment plants get water. Around 30 MLD water was being pumped from the mining pits in addition to the 70 MLD water from the Ganjem river and 48 MLD water from Selaulim dam.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.