Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bardez taluka has been grappling with a severe water shortage for the past three days. The situation worsened on the third day as the breach in the Tillari canal in Maharashtra remained unrepaired for 72 hours. Several localities in Bardez had to rely on water supplied by tankers.
Efforts to repair the canal breach at Bhomwadi, Kudase, Maharashtra, are ongoing on a war footing to restore the water supply to Goa. Despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s visit to the breach site and the Tillari-Amthane irrigation projects, the restoration work has been indefinitely delayed.
Sources within the Water Resources Department (WRD) revealed that repairs to the Tillari canal will require an additional five days to complete. In the meantime, water from the Sal barrage is being pumped to the Amthane reservoir. Engineers stationed at Amthane are working to ensure a steady supply to the Assonora water treatment plant. By late evening, the Assonora plant is expected to begin pumping treated water to Bardez. However, the likelihood of Mapusa receiving water by Wednesday, January 29, remains uncertain.
Currently, 30 million litres per day (MLD) of raw water is being supplied from Amthane to the Assonora water treatment plant, which is only a third of the required 100 MLD. Additionally, the hydraulic gate of the Amthane dam, which releases water, has become blocked. Divers from the Indian Navy have been deployed to clear the obstruction under the supervision of WRD engineers. These divers are operating in crocodile-infested waters, using artificial lighting and handling heavy equipment to resolve the issue. Once the hydraulic gate is fully functional, normal water supply is expected to resume.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has strongly criticised the Goa government over the worsening water crisis, describing it as a "state emergency" and demanding immediate action. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, North Goa District Congress Committee President Vijai Bhike condemned the government’s "inadequate response" to the crisis, highlighting the millions of people struggling to access safe drinking water.
“The government’s lack of action is unacceptable. It is their responsibility to ensure that every citizen has access to this basic necessity,” Bhike said.
Siolim Mahila Block Congress President Parvati Nagvekar also accused the government of betraying public trust through its inaction. “The water crisis is severe, and the people of Goa deserve immediate solutions,” she said.
The Congress leaders have demanded immediate steps to address the crisis, including increased funding for water conservation and management projects, promotion of water harvesting, and improvement of water infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson, Nutan Bicholkar, stated that the municipality is doing its best to supply water to those in need.