Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 11: The State Water Resources Department (WRD) has proposed shutting down the flow of water through the Tillari canal for three months from Oct 1 to Dec 31 to facilitate major maintenance and repair works, particularly along stretches of the canal in Maharashtra.

The proposal is awaiting approval from the State government. The shutdown could have implications for North Goa’s water infrastructure, including the Porvorim and Pilerne water systems. However, the WRD has said drinking-water supplies will not be affected as adequate storage arrangements are being made.

“We have moved a proposal to the State government to shut down the Tillari canal for three months beginning from October 1. The proposal is yet to be approved,” WRD Chief Engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar said.

The Tillari system is a crucial source of raw water for North Goa. Water from the canal is supplied to the Assonora and Porvorim water treatment plants, while the canal network also supports irrigation requirements.

The proposed shutdown is particularly significant for Pilerne, where the government is developing infrastructure to draw raw water from the Tillari canal. A 30 MLD raw-water pumping station at Calangute on the Tillari canal is being developed to serve the Pilerne Industrial Estate and surrounding villages of Calangute and Saligao.

The government is also working to augment raw-water infrastructure for treatment plants at Assonora, Guirim and Pilerne. The three-month closure could therefore raise concerns over water availability for the Pilerne industrial area and other non-drinking-water requirements, particularly if the shutdown coincides with the commissioning or ramping up of the new facilities.

Salelkar, however, said preparations had been made to ensure uninterrupted drinking-water supply.

“The shutdown of the canal will have no impact on drinking water supply as adequate storage preparation has been made,” he said.

The prolonged closure has been proposed against the backdrop of the deteriorating condition of the canal and repeated breaches and seepages reported along several stretches.

Major strengthening and renovation work has already been carried out on the Goa side, with the government allocating around Rs 128 crore for redesigning and strengthening the canal network. Earlier works included strengthening a 4.5-km stretch of the Left Bank Main Canal that supplies water to the Assonora and Porvorim treatment plants.

The Tillari system is an inter-State irrigation project, with the dam located in Maharashtra supplying water to North Goa for drinking and irrigation. The Left Bank Main Canal enters Goa and feeds major treatment facilities including Assonora, Porvorim and Pilerne. The Right Bank Main Canal serves areas in Pernem and supplies treatment facilities including Chandel, Mopa and Dhargal.

North Goa’s dependence on the Tillari system has been highlighted during previous disruptions. In late 2023, a maintenance shutdown lasting more than a month affected the Porvorim plant, forcing authorities to make alternative arrangements, including pumping water from the Sal area into the Amthane reservoir for treatment.

In April this year, a breach in a major pipeline near the Tillari canal crossing at Colvale also disrupted water supply to several parts of Bardez, including Porvorim.

The proposed three-month shutdown is expected to allow authorities to undertake maintenance on multiple critical stretches, particularly in Maharashtra. The WRD has been holding discussions with Maharashtra authorities before finalising the shutdown schedule.