Team Goemkarponn
PONDA: Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar announced on Sunday that the administration intends to construct 100 new bandharas by December 2025 in an effort to increase the state’s capacity for storing water.
According to him, the government has started construction on 100 bandharas, bringing the total number of traditional water harvesting systems in Goa to 474, after a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He added that 25 more bandharas could be constructed if necessary. He said that by December 2026, Goa would have enough bandharas to store three to four months’ worth of excess water.
In addition, the minister declared that Goa’s first Drone Centre of Excellence would be established in Shiroda and is anticipated to open in the coming two months.
According to him, the facility wants to help the state’s drive for technological growth by giving pupils drone technology skills.
Regarding the food distribution system, however, the minister voiced concerns about the long-standing custom of people waiting in line at fair pricing stores (FPSs) to pick up foodgrains. He advocated for systemic change and suggested home delivery via cooperatively operated fair price stores.
“I have directed a Shiroda cooperative society to start delivering food grains to homes on December 1st, and I will advocate for this system throughout the state,” he stated.
Additionally, Shirodkar discussed the difficulties facing the cooperative sector, including the growing amount of non-performing assets (NPAs) in cooperative credit societies. Shirodkar stated that in order to safeguard public monies, the industry’s norms and regulations have to be strengthened in light of the more than 2,000 NPA cases that are still ongoing in court.
