No water crisis to Tiswadi, Ponda Talukas till June, says WRD

PONDA: The Department of Water Resources on Sunday informed that the Tiswadi and Ponda Talukas would not face any water crisis until the monsoon season commences in June as there is sufficient water storage at the OPA Water Treatment Plant and its “bandaras”.

The OPA plant completed its pre-monsoon two days electrical repair work due to which parts of Tiswadi and Ponda faced inconvenience. However, water supply was restored to normal. Tankers were arranged to supply water in the areas where people are facing water shortages. 

WRD Official Ankush Gaonkar said, “Water level at the OPA Water Treatment Plant was measured at 3.50 metres level today, which is very much satisfactory while last summer had it dipped to 1.70 metres, forcing the department from March onwards to pump the water from around three mining pits spending a huge amount of money.”

“Last year, the OPA plant faced water shortage due to less rainfall, forcing the department to pump water from the mining pits but luckily in the year 2019 there was heavy rainfall of around 150 inches that helped to maintain the ground water level. Another reason might be due to COVID-19 lockdown, which reduced the footfall of tourists in the State and so the water consumption reduced,” he added.

“There are around 12 ‘bandaras’ in OPA Riverlet and WRD this summer has released water from most of the ‘bandaras’ but still there is one huge ‘bandara’ at Occambi, which is fully filled with water, that could last for many days. It could be released after present 3.50 metres water level dips, which would take more than a week’s time.”

The OPA Water Treatment Plant pumping capacity was 140 MLD but last year after commissioning the New 27 MLD Water Treatment Plant it reached to 167 MLD. This new plant is also functioning and thus around 160 MLD water is treated and supplied daily to Ponda, Tiswadi and part of Dharbandora. 

He further mentioned that the department is pumping water from Ganjem Bandara to meet the water requirement of the OPA Plant. 

Earlier, water was pumped into nullah, which was carrying water to OPA River. But as most of the water getting absorbed into the soil, this year, the government laid 900 mm dia pipeline directly from Usgao Ganjem Bandara to the OPA Plant. Later, the work was halted at Usgao as some environmentalists opposed the pipeline through nullah. However, WRD continued its work of laying the pipeline to the OPA Plant. 

Besides, Dudhsagar River and around 14 “bandaras”, OPA gets water from Ganjem Usgao “bandara” around 35 MLD and also around 50 MLD is supplied from Selaulim Dam. 

The 12 “bandharas” along the Opa River, jointly store about 21.86 lakh cubic metres (CuM) of water and the WRD opens the “bandharas as per the requirement. 

Occambi has a capacity to store two lakh cubic metres of water, Collem-I also have a capacity of two lakh (CuM), Shigao is with a capacity of 1.75 lakh CuM and the Velipwada “bandhara” has a capacity of 2.04 lakh CuM of water.

While the WRD fetches 35-MLD water from the Mhadai River at Bolcornem “bandhara” and pour it into Ganjem River which flows to Opa River. The Selaulim Water Treatment Plant pours 48-MLD water into the Kalem River that flows down to the Opa Water Treatment Plant.