PANAJI
Raising concerns over the growing pressure on the State’s drinking water infrastructure, Drinking Water Minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Tuesday said village panchayats should consult the department before granting permissions for new high-rise buildings so that their water requirements can be assessed and adequate supply planned.
The minister said every major residential or commercial project adds to the demand on the existing water distribution network and approvals should be linked to the availability of drinking water in the area.
"We will advise panchayats to inform and consult us before granting permissions for new high-rise buildings. Whenever a new construction comes up, we need to study its water requirement and whether the existing water supply system in that area can support it," Phal Dessai said.
He also cautioned against the unchecked growth of illegal constructions, saying such developments eventually become a burden on the State's water infrastructure.
"We need to stop the mushrooming of illegal constructions because if, at some stage, the government decides to regularise them, we will also have to provide them with water connections and ensure water supply," he said.
Despite the concerns over future demand, Phal Dessai maintained that Goa currently has sufficient water resources. He said the State's daily requirement stands at around 700 million litres per day (MLD) and all reservoirs are expected to reach full capacity within a week's time following the monsoon.
The minister, however, admitted that leakages remain a major challenge in ensuring efficient distribution of water and said the department is working to plug losses in the network.
He also said dependence on water tankers had reduced by nearly 90 per cent during May compared to previous years, reflecting an improvement in water availability.
Phal Dessai said the government is also developing technology to utilise water stored in abandoned mining pits during emergencies. A pilot project will be launched to pump and use such water, ensuring the system is ready whenever the State faces water stress.
