PANAJI
Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Wednesday said that repair work on the underwater iron gate of the Amthane Dam is expected to be completed by October 20. The work, which was earlier promised to be finished by July, got delayed due to management issues.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said the repairs are being done on a war footing so that the reservoir can soon be filled to full capacity. “The work on the underwater gate is almost complete. We expect it to be fully ready by October 20, after which the dam will be filled to its full level,” he said.
He added that the dam is currently more than half full and continues to supply water to the Assonora Water Treatment Plant and for irrigation. The Amthane Dam, built nearly 40 years ago, remains an important water storage and supply source.
“The gate had stopped working properly over the years, which affected water management. A contractor was hired to carry out the urgent repairs, and once completed, the dam will return to normal operations,” he said.
Work began in May, but progress has been slow. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Minister Shirodkar had visited the site in June, when the first assurance of completing the work by July was given.
Meanwhile, the minister said that apart from Amthane, work on the minor dam and barrage project at Sal, along with the pumping stations at Sal and near Amthane, is also moving ahead.
“We are confident of completing the Sal project by March 2026. Once operational, it will help transfer water from Sal to Amthane, ensuring a steady water supply in the coming years,” he added.
