Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: With water storage in several of Goa’s key dams falling below the halfway mark, worries are intensifying over whether the State can smoothly get through the peak summer weeks of May without imposing water cuts.
Recent figures from the Water Resources Department (WRD) indicate a consistent drop in reservoir levels since early April, raising concerns about supply stability—especially if the monsoon arrives late or brings below-normal rainfall.
Salaulim dam, the main drinking water source for South Goa, has seen its storage decline to 40 per cent, down from 53 per cent recorded a month ago. In North Goa, the Tillari reservoir has also dropped, currently standing at 41 per cent compared to 50 per cent in early April.
Smaller reservoirs, which cater to specific regions, are witnessing sharper declines. Anjunem dam, supplying Sattari and parts of Bicholim, has fallen significantly to 24 per cent from 36 per cent. The Amthane reservoir, serving Bardez, Pernem and parts of Bicholim, is at 44 per cent.
Meanwhile, Chapoli in Canacona and Gaunem dam are relatively stable at 49 per cent and 48 per cent respectively. However, Panchwadi dam is under strain, with levels down to 35 per cent.
Despite the falling figures, WRD Chief Engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar has assured that existing water stock should last until mid-June. He noted that irrigation releases have already been reduced to prioritise drinking water needs.
“There is no immediate cause for concern. Current storage is sufficient until the monsoon,” Salelkar said, while clarifying that decisions on rationing water supply fall under the jurisdiction of the Drinking Water Department.
Goa typically expects the monsoon by June 7, but projections of a possible 8 per cent rainfall shortfall this year have added uncertainty to the situation.
On the ground, early signs of stress are visible. Several villages in Sattari have reported inadequate supply and are relying on water tankers. Coastal areas such as Anjuna-Vagator, Assagao and Siolim are also facing irregular supply—an issue that often worsens during the tourist-heavy summer months.
