VASCO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the Water Resources department (WRD) would plan three new projects in the Mhadei Basin at Nirankal, Cajumol and Tatodi having an average storage capacity of 11.21 MCM, 4 MCM and 5.7 MCM respectively.
Sawant also announced that rejuvenation of 150 water bodies would be completed under the “Amrit Sarovar” mission of the Prime Minister by March.
In his budget speech on Wednesday, Sawant said that the Government was also exploring and coming out with appropriate plans for utilisation of waters from Mhadei Basin for the benefit of the people.
"We have projects which are planned and will be taken up upon following the legal procedure. Our projects will be in accordance with the provisions of the environmental laws. Such projects will be taken up in consonance with our case relating to Mhadei Dispute,” said Sawant.
"Three new projects have been proposed by the Government in the Mhadei Basin at Nirankal, Cajumol and Tatodi having an average storage capacity of 11.21 MCM, 4 MCM and 5.7 MCM respectively. These projects will go a long way in improving the irrigation and drinking water network in Goa. We are committed to the cause of Mhadei and shall not leave any stone unturned in our Mission Mhadei,” said Sawant.
He also informed that the WRD has planned to harvest 75 lakhs cubic metre of water to supply 250 MLD of raw water at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore, to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the North Goa District and while the Tillari Canals are closed for annual repairs or unforeseen breaches.
“A “Centre of Excellence” to promote scientific studies on the data generated and to prepare a mathematical model centre of excellence is planned at Margao through the Word Bank funds and Work is likely to be completed by March 2024,” said Sawant.
The chief minister said the State Water Informatics System will be installed at Sinchai Bhavan Porvorim, which will provide the real time data on the water availability and its distribution in the State, for better planning of the infrastructure.
“Under the River Rejuvenation Programme, River Sal and Mapusa will be desilted and waterways will be improved at a cost of Rs.25 crore and in the second phase, the damaged embankment will be restored at estimated cost of which is Rs 22.38 crore," said Sawant.
Sawant said the Construction of a flood water pumping system for Mala area of Panaji city taken up at the cost of Rs 16 crore is 95% complete.
He stated that the government would complete the Lift Irrigation Scheme at Mopa village (Rs 10 crore) by March, the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project II (Rs 116.35 crore) and Inter-State Tillari Irrigation project (Rs 1,465.60 crore) by April.
He added that the government would also complete the Lift Irrigation Scheme at Malkarne (Rs 30 crore), construction of Box Conduit canal at Quepem and Paroda (Rs 13 crore) and Development of St Inez nallah for flood control, drainage and water quality Improvement (Rs 41.14 crore) by May 2023.
