As delayed and un even monsoon rains raise fears of a water shortage next year, the Goa govern ment has suddenly dis covered the importance of water conservation, an nouncing plans to make rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge man datory for borewell users. But even as the State scram bles to avert a potential crisis, conservationists say the move amounts to a belated re sponse to a problem that has been years in the making. For nearly two decades, experts have warned that unchecked groundwater extraction, rampant con cretisation, destruction of forests and laterite pla teaus, pollution of water sources, and poor enforce ment of existing regula tions were pushing Goa towards a water emergency. Those warnings went largely unheeded.
Now, with forecasts in dicating below-normal rainfall, the government is rushing to impose conser vation measures. “Rainfall is expected to be lower this year, making water conservation ex tremely important. I have instructed the WRD to is sue a circular stating that all borewell users must un dertake water conservation measures,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said. “It is necessary to conserve water and recharge reservoirs, wells and ground water sources. We must save water wherever possible; otherwise, there could be a major water availability crisis next year,” he added. However, experts question whether targeting borewell users alone can ad dress a crisis rooted in years of neglect. Water conservation expert Luis Pinto welcomed the proposal but said Goa already has rules requiring rainwater harvesting, which are routinely ignored. “It is not about whether there is a rainfall deficit or not. If water harvesting is not undertaken, permission should not be granted for any project. However, it is not being implemented because of corrupt practices.
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On the ground, it is not happening because everybody wants their completion certificates even before their projects are complete,” Pinto said. He argued that every household and development project should be com pelled to harvest rainwater. “Each and every person should do it on their own premises. Everybody should do it compulsorily. The water level in their own wells will rise once they under take water harvesting,” he said. Architect and water conservationist Tallulah D’Silva painted an even grimmer picture, saying the State is already in the midst of a water crisis. “We are in a deep water crisis and the government and people are only just waking up to it,” she said, pointing out that subsidies of up to Rs 1 lakh for rain water harvesting have remained largely unused for years because of poor public awareness and a lack of official outreach. D’Silva said Goa’s problems go far beyond a deficient monsoon. “Trees are responsible for rainwater percolation, so don’t cut them. Goa has lost a large extent of its green cover. We are all responsible for it. The govern ment too,” she said.
She warned that laterite plateaus, which act as natural water reservoirs and recharge aquifers, are being destroyed by rampant construction and concreti sation. “We are also polluting our groundwater. Sewage, plastic and other toxic lea chates are poisoning our precious groundwater,” she said. She also questioned the lack of regulation of groundwater extraction. “Most borewells are illegal. They are responsible for drying up wells. There is no accountability,” D’Silva said, adding that simple recharge pits costing around Rs 10,000 could significantly improve groundwater replenishment. “If we don’t take these measures, we are doomed,” she warned.
The Water Resources Department has said a new proposal is awaiting gov ernment approval and that new conditions will be imposed on those seeking permission for borewells. Yet conservationists argue that Goa’s water crisis cannot be solved through another circular alone. States such as Tamil Nadu demonstrated years ago that rainwater harvesting can significantly improve groundwater levels, but only through strict enforce ment and sustained public participation. In Goa, experts say the real test is not whether new rules are announced, but whether existing laws are finally enforced, illegal borewells curbed, and the State’s shrinking natural recharge systems protected.
