PANAJI: While more than 300 million Indians are affected due to the drought situation, Goa’s water reservoir levels are safe. However, to maintain the levels, the water resources department (WRD) has been pumping water from the abandoned mining pits.
Stating that the available water is sufficient beyond the month of June, Principal Chief Engineer (PCE) of public works department (PWD) DJS Borkar told this daily that the state is currently facing no crunch of raw water.
The water reservoirs across the state have sufficient water to provide regular supply. Only at Opa, a drop in the water level has been witnessed. However, the WRD, alongwith the PWD, has been putting in all efforts to maintain the water level, he further said. “To maintain the water level at Opa, we are pumping water from the Sesa Goa and Timblo mines,” Borkar said.
The water level at Opa on Wednesday dropped to 1.8 metres which led to a difficulty in pumping water for treatment and subsequent supply. For pumping water for treatment at the Opa water treatment plant, a minimum of 2 metres of water level is necessary. However, to maintain the level, water from the mining pits was pumped and the level restored at 2.25 metres.
The PWD chief further said that water from Tillari has not been used at all except for irrigation purpose. A round-the-clock vigil is maintained jointly by the PWD and the WRD to maintain water level in the reservoirs.
The sudden dip in water levels at the plant supplying water to the capital city of Panaji and surrounding areas was attributed to restricted water flow into the Khandepar river from the Mhadei River.
While assuring that the state will not face any water crisis, Borkar requested Goans to use water cautiously. “While Goa has sufficient raw water available and treated water supply for consumption will not be affected, people should use water cautiously. People should try and minimise the use of water and avoid wastage,” he said.