the goan I network
CANACONA
After failing to fill its reservoir last year, the Chapoli Dam, a lifeline of Canacona taluka, filled to its brim and started overflowing on Thursday.
Since its construction in 2000, the Chapoli dam had failed to receive water to its full capacity of 38.75 RL (Reduced Level) for the first time last year. This had caused concern to residents, especially farmers, with many closely monitoring the water levels during this monsoon season.
With rainfall picking up in the second week of August, the dam’s reservoir reached its capacity a day after Independence Day (August 16) and the dam water began to overflow from the spillway, bringing much-needed relief to people in the area. The taluka’s observatory recorded 2,171 mm of rainfall when the dam started to overflow on Thursday.
With only the seasonal Chapoli rivulet coming under its catchment area, the Chapoli Dam with a depth of 25.5 m has approximately 12 km of catchment area as its feeding source which is at most at the foot of Sahayadri hills. As a result, if these areas do not receive normal rainfall, chances of the dam reservoir getting filled early are bleak.
According to WRD sources, the Chapoli dam attain its full capacity of 38.75 RL only after the taluka observatory records between 90-100 inches of seasonal rainfall.
Incidentally, the residents have been requesting authorities to bring more areas under the catchment of Chapoli Dam by bring other seasonal rivulets flowing from nearby areas such as the Sakrewall rivulet.
Though agriculture has been dwindling over the years, with only some paddy cultivation dependent on the Chapoli dam water, households in most parts of Canacona taluka, including the municipal areas, and much of the tourism trade are dependant on the Chapoli dam for water supply.
