Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Residents of Pernem, Bardez and Bicholim may face water supply difficulties for three months as repair work on the Tillari canal system in Maharashtra is set to begin from October 1.
The work on the project’s left and right bank canals is scheduled to continue until December 31, during which the flow of water from the Tillari project to Goa will be affected.
Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar said the government has been working on an alternative arrangement to reduce the impact of the shutdown. A new pipeline connecting Amthane with Cunchelim has already been laid, and testing is expected to begin shortly.
Once tested and commissioned, the pipeline will be used to supply water to the affected areas and further towards Porvorim.
The Tillari project, jointly developed by Goa and Maharashtra, is an important source of water for several parts of North Goa. The upcoming canal repairs have been allocated around ₹1.80 crore.
Officials said repeated breaches and damage to the canal network have caused disruptions to Goa’s water supply in the past, despite significant expenditure on maintenance and repairs.
Shirodkar said Goa will contribute 75 per cent of the repair cost, while the remaining 25 per cent will be borne by Maharashtra, as Goa is a beneficiary of the project’s water supply.
The government’s alternative supply arrangements are aimed at ensuring that the prolonged suspension does not severely affect residents across the three talukas.
