MAPUSA
With water levels in most of Goa’s major dams dropping below the halfway mark, concerns are mounting over whether the State can comfortably tide over the peak summer month of May without resorting to water rationing.
Latest data from the Water Resources Department (WRD) shows a steady decline across key reservoirs since early April, raising fresh questions over the sustainability of supply – particularly if the monsoon arrival is delayed or rainfall falls short of expectations.
The Salaulim dam, the primary source of drinking water for South Goa, has dropped to 40 per cent of its live storage capacity, down from 53 per cent recorded on April 2. In North Goa, the Tillari reservoir has declined to 41 per cent from 50 per cent during the same period.
The situation is more worrying in pockets that are heavily dependent on smaller reservoirs.
The Anjunem dam, which caters to Sattari and parts of Bicholim taluka, has seen a sharp fall to 24 per cent, compared to 36 per cent last month. The Amthane reservoir, supplying Bardez, Pernem and parts of Bicholim, currently stands at 44 per cent.
Among other reservoirs, Chapoli in Canacona and the smaller Gaunem dam are relatively better placed at 49 per cent and 48 per cent respectively, while the Panchwadi dam is at a precarious 35 per cent.
Despite the declining levels, WRD Chief Engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar sought to allay fears, stating that current storage would suffice until mid-June.
“There is nothing to worry. We have enough water until the arrival of monsoon,” Salelkar said, adding that the department has already curtailed water releases for irrigation to prioritise drinking water needs.
However, he stopped short of ruling out supply-side measures, clarifying that the WRD’s role is limited to supplying raw water.
“It is for the Drinking Water Department to decide whether to rationalize supply to consumers,” he said.
The State typically receives the monsoon by June 7, but forecasts of a possible rainfall deficit of around 8 per cent this year have added a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.
On the ground, signs of stress are already emerging. In Sattari, at least eight villages have reported inadequate supply in recent days and have been relying on tanker water. Coastal belts – particularly Anjuna-Vagator, Assagao and Siolim – have also begun experiencing irregular supply, reviving a recurring summer pattern where local residents face shortages even as demand peaks due to tourism.
The current situation reflects a familiar seasonal imbalance in the State’s water management, where rising summer demand, limited storage buffers and uneven distribution combine to strain supplies well before the monsoon sets in.
With inflows into reservoirs effectively negligible at this time of the year, the next four to six weeks are expected to be critical.
While officials maintain that there is no immediate cause for alarm, the sharp drop in reservoir levels within a month – and the growing dependence on tanker supply in several areas – suggest that the margin for comfort is narrowing.
