Goa Eyes 24x7 Water: New Dams Planned

Goa is progressing with plans for three new dam projects to be situated on the Mhadei river. Water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar stated that the process of finalizing these locations and obtaining necessary permissions is underway and could take approximately one year. These new dams are anticipated to significantly increase the state's raw water capacity.

This enhanced capacity is crucial for achieving the long-term goal of providing 24x7 drinking water supply throughout Goa. The minister highlighted that this would necessitate upgrades and the construction of new water treatment plants, along with potential extensions to the pipeline network and new water storage tanks. An NoC has already been issued to boost the capacity of the Opa water treatment plant by 50 MLD.

These developments are part of a broader strategy initiated in 2020 to explore ten minor dam projects within the Mandovi river basin. These efforts are guided by a 1999 master plan for the basin's water potential, which previously led to the development of the Anjunem and Amthane reservoirs. The state intends to meet its major water demands through these identified projects.