PANAJI: Not only has the process for re-estimating Goa’s ground water commenced as on March 2020, new regulations on groundwater governance are also on the anvil for the state based on the July 2020 order of the National Green Tribunal. In its order, the NGT has specifically banned “general permission for withdrawal of groundwater”, especially to commercial entities, without an environment impact assessment.
On Tuesday, the first meeting of the state-level committee for re-estimation of Goa’s groundwater was held in Panaji. The meet was chaired by state secretary for water resources and IAS officer Sanjay Gihar, representatives from the Bengaluru office of the central ground water board, chief engineer of Goa’s water resources department Shrikant Patil, as well as representatives from different other related departments in Goa.
The NGT’s order in July had stated that permits issued for groundwater usage have to be for specified quantity of water and cannot be valid for perpetuity. Usage of water permitted should be monitored with digital flow metres and audited every year by third parties, the NGT had said. Swift action, including blacklisting and prosecution, should be taken against those who fail the audit, stated the order.
The central ground water board in its report last year had stated that the overall groundwater availability scenario in Goa remains safe, but a ‘negligible to moderate’ fall in water level was recorded during the premonsoon season. The board report showed that groundwater consumption has gone up in Goa.
This report was, however, based on groundwater re-estimation up to March 2017.
Now, a more recent review of the groundwater situation in Goa is being carried out. Increase in population, tourism and commercial activities is a concern. The central board’s report had agreed that the loss due to the natural discharge is 40% for Goa as against the recommended figure of 5%. This was because in case of Goa the terrain is highly undulating and laterite formations are highly porous.

PANAJI: The upward swing of mortalities continued with 11 Covid deaths reported, taking the count to 315. In the last two days, 25 people have lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus.
The state’s active cases of Covid-19 climbed to 5,102 with 613 new cases. A total of 446 patients were cured taking the tally of recoveries to 20,094.
Dr S M Bandekar, dean Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, said it was observed that patients who died within 24 hours of admission tested positive the same day.
“They ignored their symptoms for a significant time and were rushed to the hospital at a stage when it was unbearable,” said Bandekar.
Of the nine covid casualties reported from GMC, one patient—a 52-year-old man from Santa Cruz—died within the hour he was admitted.
The deceased suffered one comorbid condition, hypertension. He developed acute respiratory distress syndrome when he was brought to the hospital.
The youngest case reported on Tuesday was that of a 27-year-old woman from Bicholim who was admitted to GMC on developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. She suffered from diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.
She lost the battle with Covid after eight days of hospital treatment.
A 34-year-old man from Calangute who was presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome died within four days of admission. He suffered from obesity.
Two deaths were reported from ESI-Covid hospital in Margao.
The government has repeatedly asked people not to stay at home if they develop Covid symptoms and get tested immediately.
On Tuesday, the health centres that witnessed a sharp rise in cases were Sakhali, Bicholim, Pernem and Valpoi. While active cases reported at Sakhali health centre rose to 332, Bicholim saw its tally rising to 235. The active cases of Valpoi community centre stood at 225.
Panaji’s active caseload stood at 290 with over 20 new cases reported during the day while that of Margao urban centre was 402.