Former minister Jose Philip D’Souza on Saturday expressed concern over the growing water shortage in Goa, warning that the State could face a serious and long-term water crisis if immediate corrective measures are not taken.
Addressing a news conference, D’Souza said the delay in the arrival of monsoon rains has exposed the vulnerability of Goa’s water resources, with several areas already facing shortages. He blamed rampant hill cutting, large-scale deforestation and unchecked environmental degradation for disturbing natural weather patterns and reducing the State’s ability to conserve water.
“We are going backwards. People are once again cooking on chullas, and if the situation continues, they may soon have to depend on wells for water,” D’Souza said while highlighting the hardships being faced by ordinary citizens.
He said the government must treat the issue as an urgent priority and take immediate steps to ensure adequate water supply across the State.
According to him, short-term measures alone will not solve the problem, and authorities must begin planning for future challenges linked to climate change and irregular rainfall.
D’Souza pointed out that many countries facing limited freshwater resources have successfully adopted alternative solutions to meet growing demand.
Referring to developments in the Middle East, he noted that countries such as Dubai have invested heavily in desalination technology and are able to convert seawater into potable water on a large scale.
He urged the State government to seriously examine similar options and prepare long-term infrastructure plans before the situation worsens.
“The government should realise that a permanent water crisis cannot be ruled out in the future. We must start planning now rather than waiting for shortages to become unmanageable,” he said.
