Team Herald
PANJIM: Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Monday announced that water is expected to reach Bardez by Tuesday following the completion of repair work on the breached Tillari water canal at Kudase village in Maharashtra.
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Speaking to reporters at Altinho, Shirodkar stated that after the repair work, no further breaches are expected in the canal for the next four months. He reassured that the condition of the canal in Goa is better than in Maharashtra, reducing the likelihood of any breach on the Goan side.
“|There is no likelihood of seepage in the canal. We have also fixed responsibility on the contractor for the next five years. When the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Goa met around eight months ago, it was decided that approximately Rs 400 crore would be allocated by Maharashtra for the canal’s repair,” he said.
Shirodkar added that the repair work is likely to be taken up in the next season, with the Maharashtra government expected to approve the project within the next two months.
“As per my information, the WRD of Maharashtra has estimated the repair cost at around Rs 400 crore. Of course, since there is also a tendering process, there is likelihood that the work will not commence this season,” he explained.
To ensure the canal’s stability, Shirodkar has instructed authorities to conduct regular patrolling of the Tillari canal to monitor any potential seepages, ensuring that even minor leaks are promptly repaired.
He further assured that water for treatment plants such as Siolim and Pilerne will be made available within four to five months.
Bardez taluka has been facing an acute water shortage since the main canal breach occurred a fortnight ago.
