PANJIM: With South-West Monsoon turning its back on Goa, the State is likely to face acute water shortage over the next few days considering that the water levels at all major dams are reported to have decreased from the average levels. Goa currently has 49 percent rainfall deficit for the very first month of monsoon.

The raw water at Selaulim reservoir, which is already affected with increase in manganese content, has dropped almost nine metres below average. The average water level of the dam which is the lifeline of South Goa is 42 meters.

Of the five, water levels in all four major dams – Selaulim, Anjunem, Chapoli and Panchwadi – have fallen below average in June, further aggravating the water crisis. Only water level at Amthane dam is at the average level.

While the water level at Selaulim has dropped by nine meters, at Anjuna it has dropped by almost five meters. The water level has decreased by one meter each at Chapoli and Panchwadi.

WRD Chief Engineer Sandip Nadkarni confirmed the decrease in water levels. He, however, said that at present there is no water shortage but the situation might change if the State doesn’t receive rainfall in next two days.

Further, the agriculture dept has also issued directions for release of water to farmers for irrigation projects. A senior public works department official said that State is already facing 20 per cent water shortage due to less rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not predicted any rainfall for the State in the next 48-hours.

The water level of the dams has been on the decline since May due to hot weather. The authorities were expecting the situation to improve in June with the onset of monsoon. A month after the arrival of south west monsoon, the total seasonal rainfall till Monday was 460.8mm, as against the average total of 889.8 mm, a shortfall of 429.0mm. During 2013, the State had received 771.4mm of rainfall in June. The onset of monsoon over Goa was delayed this year, with South West Monsoons arriving on June 11.