CANACONA:With the Chapolim dam filling up and starting to overflow from this week, the worries of the residents from Canacona taluka that like last year the dam might not overflow are put to rest with water spilling over the entire chute ungated spillway from Thursday.
Moreover, Canacona taluka is located on the windward side, surrounded by the Sayadri mountain range, and accordingly it is supposed to get maximum rain as the clouds hang out on the windward side creating maximun precipitation but the figures of the rain fall recorded by the 13 rain gauge stations located in different talukas of Goa suggest that till now Canacona got the fourth lowest rains only after Mormugao, Margao and Dabolim, at 1840 mm of rainfall recorded till now at the lone government rain gauge observatory the Chapoli dam has achieved the highest level in the middle of August which is a rarity since the dam was commissioned in the year 2000.
The 760mts earthen Chapoli dam catering to the irrigational and drinking water needs of most of the Canacona taluka is fed by a nallah originating from the hills of chapoli and surrounding areas and has a catchment area of only 6.8 sq. Kms. due to which it in some years the dam remains unfilled worrying the residents of the taluka over the quality of the water as the standing water increases the biological oxygen demand which is harmful for fish and other aquatic creatures living in the dam waters.
Canacona receives a mean annual rainfall of 2996mm but the hilly ranges of Chapoli trapping more south westerly clouds this season has resulted in the dam getting filled and overflowing since this week said a source from water resources department.
With the news of the dam overflowing going viral to the nook and corner of the taluka the youths have started making a beeline to the dam site to have a glimpse of the nature at its best as the dam itself is situated in the quite un spoilt picturesque forests, away from the hustles and bustles of otherwise hectic schedules of urban life.
