Augmentation of Chandel plant will be done by Dec 2023: Cabral

Porvorim: Even as Pernem taluka faces acute water shortage every year, PWD minister Nilesh Cabral in a reply tabled in the state assembly said that augmentation of the Chandel water treatment plant from 15MLD to 30MLD will be complete only by December 2023.
“Additional augmentation of the existing 15MLD to 30MLD work is under execution which will be completed by December 2023. This increase in the Chandel plant capacity will ensure that enough drinking water can be supplied to consumers of entire Pernem constituency,” said Cabral in the reply.
The entire taluka of Pernem has a single water treatment plant and the tail-ends often face acute water shortages. As tourism footfalls are on the rise in the Morjim-Mandrem beeach belt, there has been a further strain on the resources of Pernem.
Cabral said in his reply to another question that the tender is yet to be floated for a second water treatment plant for Pernem, planned at Tuem.
“The present status of the 30MLD water treatment plant at Tuem: tender for the work has been opened and submitted for acceptance/approval of GSWB. 540 days for completion after issue of work order,” the minister’s reply states.
Cabral, however, said that the Mopa international airport, which is set to be inaugurated in August, will have its own water treatment plant and the project will therefore not be further demanding on Pernem’s treated water.
“Presently there is no requirement of water for Mopa airport since there is a water treatment plant in the Mopa campus for which raw water is supplied by water resources department. As the Mopa airport is having its own water treatment plant, no separate arrangement is made by the PWD to meet the future requirement,” Cabral said.
The PWD minister, in response to another question by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, said that there is 93MLD of water available to meet the requirement of Bardez taluka.
While 84MLD is treated each day at Assonora, another 9MLD is treated at Porvorim, he said.