PORVORIM
After a gap of one-and-half month the Porvorim Water Treatment Plant (WTP) finally began receiving water from the Tillari dam on Thursday and water was released to Porvorim and surrounding areas by evening, much to the relief of residents.
Authorities at Tillari dam had discontinued supply of raw water to Porvorim and Assonora WTPs from November 13 to carry out its annual maintenance.
With the Porvorim WTP shut down in the absence of raw water, residents of Porvorim, Reis Magos and Nerul had experienced acute water shortage.
Water to residents of Porvorim was being released on alternate days while residents of Reis Magos and Nerul did not receive water for over a week.
Affected residents were forced to hire water tankers from private companies as the PWD was unable provide sufficient water tankers.
Such was the situation that residents of Nerul had even marched to the office of the PWD Assistant engineer at Porvorim to demand water supply.
After its annual maintenance, water from the Tillari dam was scheduled to be released on December 22, but due to technical issues with the emergency gate, there was a delay in releasing water.
Officials from Goa and Maharashtra worked round the clock to resolve the issue pertaining to operation of the gate. Water supply in the canal was finally restored on December 27.
PWD sources in Porvorim said the Porvorim WTP started receiving raw water from Tillari at around 9 am.
“It takes around 5 hours for the water to reach the desired level. The water received was a little turbid. If turbid water is treated and supplied to residents, there may some outcry from residents. Hence, we will wait for some time for the turbidity to settle down. We will then treat the water and pump it to the residents,” said the source.
Treated water was finally released to Porvorim and surrounding areas by Thursday evening.
