PANJIM: While Goa started receiving water from the Tillari canal in 2009, the ambitious multi-crore project of the Goa government still remains incomplete.
The total irrigation potential of the Tillari irrigation project in Goa is 1862 hectares, comprising 1139 hectares on the right bank main canal and 723 hectare on the left. But as of March 2009, only 301 hectares have been brought under cultivation on the right bank main canal and 165 hectares on the left bank main canal, a total of a mere 466 hectares
The project had initially begun at an estimated cost of Rs 217.22 cr. It then became a Rs 1600 cr joint venture between Maharashtra and Goa, started in 1988 and by 2013 it was labelled as “complete”
Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar says the project remained incomplete due to some unknown reasons. “While Goa is already receiving enough water from Tillari, the project has remains incomplete,” Palyekar told Herald.
He said that the seven kilometre stretch from Bicholim to Mayem has remained incomplete. “If completed the project would solve water issues of Mayem,” he said.
Asked the reasons for the delay, Palyekar said funds and land acquisition still remains a concern. “We need to acquire land which is the major hindrance. Secondly, as the project was funded by Centre, I do not know why the previous governments have not approached them.”
He says that an additional Rs 400-Rs 500 cr is needed to complete the project in all aspects and he is making efforts to get it back. “I will take up the issue with the Central Water Commission and get the additional amount sanctioned,” he stated.
Earlier, the State government had said that the Tillari project was completed in 2013. The right bank main canal running up to Pernem was inaugurated on 19 December 2001, and the left bank main canal running into Bicholim was inaugurated on February 16, 2007.
Currently the dam water meets the drinking water and industrial demands of three talukas in North Goa – Bicholim, Pernem and Bardez.
Tillari supplies 7.5 million litres per day to the Chandel water treatment plant in Pernem and 90 million litres per day to the Assonora water treatment plant in Bardez.
