Work progresses swiftly, likely to finish by July 31
MAPUSA
Work on the installation of two new gates at the Amthane dam is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by July 31, provided weather conditions remain favourable, officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) have confirmed. The installation project, which is being executed by Bhakia Constructions, was commissioned after one of the existing gates at the dam suffered a malfunction around two months ago.
The WRD has issued a 30-day deadline for the contractor to complete the work. “The work is being carried out on a war footing. If there are no major disruptions due to rain, we are confident of completing the installation by the end of this month,” said WRD Chief Engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar.
He noted that the replacement of the damaged gate, along with the addition of a second new gate, was critical to ensure dam safety and operational efficiency.
Water level kept low
To facilitate the gate installation work, the water level at the Amthane dam has been intentionally maintained at a minimum. As of now, the dam is at just 7 percent of its full capacity. “This was a calculated move. If the water level were high, it would not have been possible to carry out the gate replacement work safely and efficiently. Keeping the dam at a low level was essential for the engineering work underway,” explained Salelkar.
This approach stands in contrast to the situation at other major reservoirs in the State. According to WRD data, three reservoirs in Goa – Selaulim, Panchwadi and Gaunem – have already crossed the 100 percent capacity mark, while two others – Tillari and Chapoli – are currently above 80 percent, and the Anjunem dam is at 50 percent.
Enhancing dam safety
The decision to install two gates – rather than simply replacing the faulty one – was made with long-term safety and disaster management in mind.
“We require two operational gates at the Amthane dam to ensure redundancy during emergency situations,” said Salelkar.
“In the event of a technical failure or heavy overflow, having an additional gate gives us more control over the water discharge. This is a standard safety practice for critical water infrastructure,” he added.
The Amthane dam plays a crucial role in water supply and irrigation for large parts of North Goa, including Mapusa and the surrounding areas.
With the monsoon now in full swing, WRD engineers are working against time to complete the installation before the dam starts receiving significant inflow from upstream catchment areas.
