PONDA: The residents of Panchwadi and surrounding areas of Shiroda constituency are facing water scarcity in view of drastic drop in the water level in the Mhaisal dam even as the government is taking measures to fit floating pumps to pump the available water.
After the water level in the Mhaisal dam became critical, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar and PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral along with officials inspected the dam and instructed the officials to take immediate measures to overcome the water crisis.
Existing stock of water at Mhaisal dam will last for few days and surely not more than a week. Panchawadi panchayat members too confirmed that the dam water level had dropped to such an extent that the only hope for water is early rains.
The 10 MLD Mhaisal water treatment plant is based at the naturally formed dam at Panchawadi, Shiroda and caters to the needs of Panchawadi village and parts of nearby areas of Shiroda constituency. This dam has its own source of perennial water which is harvested throughout the year at the base of naturally formed dam where bandhara is built at one end to store the flowing water.
When contacted, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said since the situation is critical, the government has decided to install floating pumps at this dam to pump the available water.
Shirodkar said, pumping the water with floating pumps may be sufficient for another few days till the arrival of monsoon. He said Mhaisal dam is based upon harvested water in monsoon and that there is no other source of water to this dam.
Incase of water shortage, it was decided to augment the requirement of water through Salaulim water supply pipeline, which supply water upto the Borim village and by increasing pressure the water can be supplied to Panchawadi and other nearby areas, Shirodkar said.
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said water in the Mhaisal dam can suffice for only next four days. He said in entire Goa there is water crisis and stressed the need to increase water storage capacity to overcome water scarcity in the future in case there is delay in monsoon.
“We will need to harvest plenty of monsoon water in Goa and badly need to increase storage capacity to meet additional water requirement considering tourists visiting the State,” Cabral pointed out.
