Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jun 29: With weather forecasters predicting a below-normal monsoon for Goa this year, environmental experts and agriculture researchers have warned that the state's declining ability to retain rainwater could worsen water scarcity, affect farming and accelerate groundwater depletion.
Experts said Goa has gradually lost its traditional water management practices that once helped villages store monsoon runoff and maintain water availability throughout the year.
Lawyer and social commentator Radharao Gracias said traditional systems of bunding village lakes before the end of the monsoon played a key role in maintaining groundwater levels.
"Not long ago, every lake was bunded by mid-September and water was retained in temporary lakes, helping maintain a high water table in every village," Gracias said.
He added that changes following the Agricultural Tenancy Act and the weakening of communidade systems disrupted the traditional water conservation network.
"Today, a vast majority of lakes remain unbunded, and most village wells run dry," he said, stressing the need to revive lake bunding practices to tackle the expected water shortage.
Agriculture researcher Sachin Tendulkar said Goa needs to return to two basic principles of water management — capturing rain where it falls and slowing down water flow to allow groundwater recharge.
He said instead of allowing rainwater to quickly flow into dams and bandharas before reaching the sea, efforts should focus on increasing percolation into the soil and replenishing aquifers.
According to Tendulkar, these principles are being ignored due to both private development and government projects.
Conservation activists pointed to infrastructure projects such as the Old Goa bypass highway, saying large stretches of concrete surfaces prevent rainwater from entering the ground.
"Imagine a 40-metre-wide stretch over 3-4 km — that entire area has been converted into an impervious surface without any provision for rainwater recharge," an activist said.
Tendulkar said every new road, building and settlement reduces the natural land available for groundwater recharge.
"The surface becomes impervious. At a minimum, every building should harvest rainwater from its rooftop. This must be checked before approvals are given," he said, adding that existing rules on rainwater harvesting are often not followed.
Agriculture department sources described Goa's falling groundwater levels and unpredictable monsoon patterns as a "slow-burning crisis".
"If these twin problems persist, agriculture in the state will be drastically affected. The 16% of the population that depends on farming for their livelihoods should be ready with alternatives," a department source said.
Experts stressed that effective watershed management, especially in Goa's hinterland areas, is essential for sustaining agriculture.
"Agriculture can thrive only if there is abundant water," one expert said, calling for wider adoption of rainwater harvesting systems across interior talukas.
Experts also warned that important groundwater recharge zones in Sattari, Sanguem and Dharbandora are facing increasing pressure due to expanding settlements and replacement of natural surfaces with concrete. They said extensive iron ore mining has further damaged key catchment areas.
To address the growing challenge, experts have suggested measures at household, community and policy levels.
Tendulkar recommended dual plumbing systems in homes, with separate lines for treated drinking water and recycled or untreated water for activities such as flushing and cleaning.
At the community level, Gracias called for restoring the annual practice of bunding village lakes before the monsoon ends to improve groundwater recharge and maintain well water during dry months.
At the policy level, Tendulkar stressed the need for better coordination between agriculture, forest and water resources departments.
"There is no coordination between the agriculture, forest and water resources departments. That has to change," he said.