PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant, who reviewed water supply to each taluka on Tuesday, said the state is facing a shortage of 76MLD (million litres per day). To bridge the shortfall, he said water would be drawn from mining pits and rural water supply schemes and that by March 31, at least 70% of the issue would be resolved.
Goa’s total requirement is 589MLD but only 513MLD is presently supplied, the chief minister said.
A micro-plan to cater to Bardez’s water needs is expected to be finalised in eight days. The taluka will receive an additional 10MLD of water, of which 5MLD will be supplied from the Porvorim water treatment plant and the rest from rural schemes, Sawant, who met with officials of various departments, said.
Science and technology minister Michael Lobo said the government has taken steps to resolve the water shortage across the state even as he assured to meet with the PWD every week over water supply to Bardez.
He further said that while it requires 90MLD, it receives only 67MLD.
“There is a 27MLD water shortage in the taluka. Work on new 15MLD water treatment plant at Porvorim is nearing its final stages. A March 30 deadline has been set for it to treat and supply 5MLD to Porvorim. Some can be diverted to the Siolim or Calangute constituencies,” he said and added that there is a demand for the establishment of a 15MLD water treatment plant atop the Saligao plateau specifically for the Calangute constituency.