Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar informed the Assembly that Goa’s water demand is expected to increase by nearly 20% over the next ten years.
Citing data from the Department of Drinking Water, Shirodkar said that the current requirement for piped water supply across domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors stands at 695 million litres per day (MLD). This figure is projected to reach approximately 834 MLD over the next decade.
Responding to a question by MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, Shirodkar highlighted several initiatives underway to strengthen and expand the State’s water infrastructure. Among the major projects in progress are the 115 MLD augmentation scheme on the Kalna River at Bailpar, aimed at supplying water to the Mopa airport and Pernem Taluka, and a 60 MLD lift irrigation scheme at Dhargal on the Right Bank Main Canal (RBMC) of the Tillari Irrigation Project, intended for Tuem in Pernem.
Future plans also include a 150 MLD augmentation project on the Chapora River at Sal and Amthane tank to enhance water supply for Assonora (110 MLD), Assagao (5 MLD), Porvorim (20 MLD), and Pilerne (20 MLD), along with a 15 MLD scheme at Morlem to cater to Sattari Taluka.
Additionally, the government intends to implement eight water storage projects in the Mhadei Basin to collectively hold up to 9 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water in the coming years.
The long-delayed Charawane minor irrigation dam in Sattari, initiated in 2007 to store 230 Ha-m of water at a cost of ₹15.06 crore, remains stalled due to objections from the Forest Department. The minister stated that the project is now under review.
Consultancies have been appointed for six more proposed dams—Nirankal, Rivem, Nanoda, Sonal-1, Matojanwada, and Bolkarne (Ragada-III)—while planning and design work is ongoing for Kajumol and Tatodi dams.
