the goan I network
MAPUSA
Bardez taluka could face acute water shortage for many days, as operations at the Tillari dam have been shut down due to maintenance.
With the Tillari dam shut down due to maintenance work, which is expected to go on for about a month, the Assonora Water Treatment Plant has been unable to treat sufficient quantities of water.
The Maharashtra Irrigation Department (MID) had stopped flow of water from the Tillari dam towards Goa since the last four days, on account of annual maintenance work at the Tillari dam by the MID.
Due to heavy rainfall this year, excess water from the Tillari dam was released into the Chapora and Par rivers, causing major floods in the areas surrounding the two rivers.
As a result of heavy rains, mud began to flow into the Tillari dam and leading to high turbidity levels.
Water levels at the Amthane Water Reservoir have also gone down.
Water was usually being pumped from the Sal river, but the electricity department has not provided power supply to the pump, making it difficult for the PWD to maintain water levels in the dam.
With low water levels also in the Par river, authorities were forced to stop operations at the Assonora Water Treatment Plant on Monday and they fear that unless water from Tillari is made available, operations cannot resume at the plant.
When contacted, WRD Chief Engineer Sandeep Nadkarni confirmed that the Tillari dam is under maintenance.
“As a result, we have not received water for the Assonora Water Treatment Plant. We have had talks with the electricity department to provide power supply to the pump house at Sal river, so that we can pump water to maintain levels at the Amthane dam,” said Nadkarni.
“We hope that power will be supplied from Wednesday and once we able to start pumps, water can be supplied to the Assonora Water Treatment Plant,” Nadkarni added.
