To up Goa’s raw water supply, govt mulls desalination plant

Panaji: Water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar said on Wednesday that the state’s reservoirs have sufficient raw water storage to meet Goa’s requirement till the monsoon arrives. He also stated that the water resources department (WRD) is looking at the possibility of a desalination plant for Panaji and a water release automation for irrigation, among other measures.


The minister added that a team of engineers will be visiting Lakshadweep and Chennai to study the desalination plants there. “They will check how both these plants work. If we set up a plant, we will not need to keep building bandharas. Many Arab countries are utilising water by desalination process in large quantities,” he said.


The water resources department is also keen on modernising the water release system. Shirodkar said a tender will be floated soon for desiltation of Anjunem reservoir, which will increase its storage capacity by 30 days.


Shirodkar told TOI, “At present, we are releasing water from the reservoirs, and it continues to flow. We will implement a system where water is released as per the farmers’ requirements. We will assess requirement for up to 5km, from 6 to 10km and so on. And then we can lay a pipeline and release only water as per requirement. It will help us preserve water in the dams.”


Shirodkar also laid down various steps taken to meet the necessary water supply requirements by next summer. He said that the Sal barrage will be ready by May 30 for decommissioning, along with 1,000 more bandharas that will increase Goa’s water capacity till 5,000. For Opa, water will be pumped from a mining pit from May 1 to boost its availability in the area. The department is also planning to commission a pumping house on Kushawati river on May 30, that will increase the water supply capacity and will reduce the dependence for water supply from Selaulim.


“There is sufficient water storage in all our dams. The water available in Selaulim reservoir is 40.4% sufficient to meet the requirement for next two months for the entire South Goa. In Anjunem, the dam is full to 23.8% capacity. We will reduce flow in canals for irrigation and then the water supply is enough for 1.5months,” said the WRD minister.


Shirodkar further said, “The Amthane dam is 44.4% full and water levels can be increased up to 60% by pumping water from Chapora river.” He further added that the water storage in Panchawadi dam is 35%, which is comparatively better than 2023 when the water levels dipped to 14.7%
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