In a much-awaited development, the Tillari Irrigation Project, vital for catering to North Goa’s water needs, reopened its main gates on Wednesday morning. Following almost 50 days of maintenance work, the gates were unlocked at 5.40 am, initiating the flow of water through the canals.
According to Subhash Shirodkar, the Minister of the Goa Water Resources Department, the comprehensive maintenance concluded on Tuesday, December 26. He confirmed that the water had commenced its journey and was expected to reach Porvorim by Thursday. “The main gates of the project were opened at 5.40 am on Wednesday after which the water started flowing in the canals. The water will reach Porvorim on Thursday by 6 pm or maybe even at 4 pm,” the minister said.
Shirodkar addressed the challenges faced during the closure period, highlighting efforts made to compensate for the halted supply. “Extra water was pumped from the Assanora water plant to bridge the gap caused by the temporary shutdown of the Tillari project,” he stated, acknowledging the intermittent scarcity experienced.
The maintenance involved significant repairs, with Maharashtra tending to a three-kilometre stretch of its canal while Goa focused on a nine-kilometre canal lining. Shirodkar emphasized that these measures were intended to ensure a prolonged break from canal maintenance, projecting a period of 10-15 years before such works would be necessary again.
To prevent future water scarcity in case of a Tillari canal closure, the Goa government initiated a Rs 250 crore project. This project aims to lift water from the river, with plans to extract 350 MLD by establishing a station in Sal village, near the Maharashtra border.
Shirodkar assured the people that with the resumption of Tillari project operations, the looming water scarcity concerns would soon lessen.
