Chapoli Dam running out of water?
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, MAY 29
Is the Chapoli Dam, the lifeline for residents in Canacona taluka, running out of water?
While residents have expressed concern that water levels at the Chapoli Dam have plunged dangerously low, authorities feel this is no reason to panic as the Chapoli Dam’s reservoir has sufficient potable water for about 250 days.
Observing the low levels at the reservoir, residents have feared that any delay of the monsoons by about 20 days could pose serious problems regarding the availability of potable water from the dam.
Almost three-fourth of the Chapoli Dam’s catchment area has gone dry and water can only be seen in one-third of the catchment area.
The present level of water in Chapoli reservoir is 28.87 RL (Reduced Level) available in the catchment area measuring just 329.29 hectares/metre, as against the dam’s full capacity of 38.75 RL covering the total catchments area running up to 1122 hectares/metre. This gives the figure of just 29.34 % of availability of water in the dam’s reservoir.
However, a source in the local office of the Water Resources Department has downplayed the fear.
“Canacona has sufficient water for consumption even if there are no rains for another 250 days,” said the source.
“However, the delayed monsoons can prove disastrous for cultivation, including paddy fields, as without fresh rains, the Chapoli Dam has no water to meet the demands of Canacona farmers,” the source added.
Commenting on the reduced water levels at Canacona Dam, the source added: “The water capacity of 28.87RL is just .02RL less than the last year’s figure of 28.89RL.”
“Considering the 50RL as the last capacity of water which remains in the dam’s reservoir, there is another 279 RL which is still available for pumping for domestic and consumable usage.”
“Considering the availability of 279 RL at our disposal, it can suffice for more than 250 days easily and without much problems, even if the newly installed 10 MLD water treatment plant at Sheller operates to full capacity,” the source added.
The source informed that if the 10 MLD water treatment plant operates fully, it requires 1 hectare/metre of water on an average daily, which is easily available at the Chapoli Dam.
“Since mid May, releasing of dam’s water for agriculture purpose has been stopped and the available dam water is easily sufficient for more than 250 days, also considering the natural disappearance of water in the dam’s reservoir itself in hot climatic conditions,” the source said.
