Team from Goa verifies Colvale ground reality

Giant water wells in Sasoli-Dodamarg drawing up Colvale river water at source

TEAM HERALD

bureau@herald-goa.com

MAYEM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s ordered inspection to ascertain the truth of claims of Maharashtra diverting Colvale river water has revealed that construction work on wells is indeed being carried out on in Maharashtra. The move has raised hackles in the state which is already reeling from assault on its water sources from all sides. 

Taking serious cognizance of the work by Maharashtra government to divert the source of the Colvale river water to different places in Maharashtra, Water Resources Department Executive Engineer Pramod Badami on the instructions of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar dispatched a team of two engineers on Friday to take the stock of the work. 

Following the instructions Assistant Engineer E P V Sreekumar and Junior Engineer Mallikarjun on Friday inspected the said area and found that two giant water wells are being constructed to the left hand side of the Colvale river near village Sasoli-Dodamarg in district Sindhudurg and are situated at a distance of around 200 metres from the Pathan Kot Bridge in Maneri- Maharashtra. 

Speaking to the media Sreekumar said they have already submitted the report of the work to Badami who will consequently forward the same to the chief minister. “I have already submitted the report to the the executive engineer and the future course of action will be only decided after latter forwards the same to the chief minister ” he said. 

Meanwhile, former Hedus-Maneri sarpanch Atmaram Naik said the Maharashtra government is planning to divert the Colvale river water to Vengurla, Redi, Kudal and 17 interior villages from Maharashtra for drinking, irrigation and industry by laying pipelines connecting the giant wells.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Goa Tillari Irrigation Department Premanand Mhambrey also inspected the site.  He said that Parrikar has instructed them to undertake a detailed study of this project. 

Meanwhile, the chief minister said the state government has not paid any heed to the request of Maharashtra about reducing the steel poles required for construction purpose. Adding that the  Maharashtra government cannot undertake unilateral work of any project, Parrikar said the ongoing work at Sasoli in Maharashtra will be inquired into soon. This work being undertaken by an authority called  Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran under the guidance of the Maharashtra government envisages lifting of 112.40 ML water every day from which 23.78 ML water will be used for hotel and household purpose while, 88.42 will be used for industrial purpose. The water treatment plant will be constructed at Degve in Maharashtra while, the provision will be also made for supplying water to industrial units from Satarda. The pipelines laid will be 80 kilometers long and the estimated cost is around Rs 211 crore. The work is likely to be completed by 2017. It has been found that if the Maharashtra government is successful in constructing this giant project, then entire water supply system for north Goa will be severely affected.