PANAJI
It is the middle of June, and yet Goa remains unusually dry. While the State continues to receive scattered showers, rainfall remains significantly below normal. “Water, water everywhere, nor a drop to drink” seems particularly relevant as Goa grapples with the effects of a dry monsoon. Rising temperatures and high humidity have only added to the discomfort, leaving residents longing for some respite and rainfall.
A dry monsoon deepens public unease
For many people across the State, the impact is already being felt in everyday life. Households in several areas are facing uncertainty about water supply, while farmers anxiously watch the skies, hoping for rain crucial for sowing. As expectations of a heavy monsoon remain uncertain, concerns are growing over how long existing water reserves can fulfil the State’s needs. The crisis has also drawn attention to those who have long viewed water conservation as an essential part of everyday living.
Voices from the ground: Conservation and critique
Amidst the uncertainty, a few locals are looking to water conservation to sustain them till the rains arrive and beyond. Yashodan Heblekar and Dr Jyoti Heblekar, co-founders of Mystic Woods Butterfly Park in Ponda, have centred their lives around water conservation for the past 21 years, long before water scarcity became a major concern. They designed their home around the principle of working with nature rather than against it. “Water conservation has therefore become not just a practice, but is a way of life for us,” mentions Yashodan Heblekar. With scarce, delayed monsoons, the hill slopes they nurtured as a biodiversity habitat also serve as catchment areas that help recharge the local water table.
“The water conservation crisis is not simply one of scarcity. This stems from the State’s abdication of its responsibility to its citizens,” remarks Wency Mendes, an independent researcher and catalyst, and the curator of Goa Water Stories, which is a community-led digital archive and storytelling initiative that documents Goa’s water bodies, and the people whose lives are intertwined with them. “Additionally, the disregard for village communities and the traditional hydro-ecological systems that have sustained both landscapes and livelihoods for generations only adds to it,” he states further.
Call for collective action and sustainable planning
Commenting on the lack of rainfall, Heblekar notes that it will certainly affect rainwater harvesting, while noting that its impact shall extend far beyond. “Insufficient rainfall affects food security, public health, the economy, and even social harmony. Water stress can create tensions between communities and individuals, particularly when access to water becomes unequal,” he mentions. Thus, in times like these, he believes that it is even more crucial to maximise every drop of rain that falls. Emphasising the need to protect catchment areas, recharge groundwater, preserve forests and wetlands, he says, “We must ensure that rainwater is allowed to soak into the earth rather than being rapidly drained away. The less rain we receive, the more efficiently we must use and conserve the water that we do get.”
Mendes believes conservation is not just a measure taken up by the government or by individuals. Rather, he states that it must be understood as a collective responsibility that extends beyond. “We need to revive and support community stewardship of water systems, strengthen local ecological knowledge, and resist the destruction of natural recharge zones through unchecked development,” he mentions.
Heblekar notes that water conservation starts much earlier than most people realise. “It begins at the very moment when we choose to build a house or purchase an apartment,” he remarks. He insists people should make sure that builders incorporate rainwater harvesting systems, sewage treatment plants, and groundwater recharge mechanisms. “Residents should also actively participate in maintaining open spaces and ensure these remain natural habitats rather than converting them into heavily manicured gardens that consume excessive resources,” he states.
As the India Meteorological Department forecasts the revival of monsoon activity from June 22, the need for water conservation remains as important as ever. Thus, collective efforts by citizens and government can go a long way in helping the State navigate the present challenge. As Goa awaits the return of widespread rains, maybe it is time to sing “Pavsa pavsa yo re yo” again. The current situation, thus, serves as a reminder that safeguarding water resources cannot be limited to times of crisis alone. Sustainable management, responsible development, and public participation will remain crucial to ensuring the State’s long-term water security.
