Goa will generate enough revenue, says CM Sawant

Project in Sal-Ibrampur to supply drinking water to 3 talukas

Sankhali: Stating that Goa will be on track to generate enough revenue in the coming years, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said there will be no need for the government to go in for loans.

Sawant made this announcement at a ceremony organised to lay foundation stone for the construction of a barrage and a 250 million litres per day (MLD) raw water pumping station on Chapora river in the villages of Sal and Ibrampur.

The project will supply drinking water to the talukas of Bicholim, Bardez and Pernem and is expected to cost around `350 crore.

Stressing on the importance of community support for the project, as the barrage will provide connectivity between the villages of Sal and Ibrampur, the Chief Minister said irrigation societies will be formed to encourage more people to take up agriculture and horticulture activities.

Promising to provide uninterrupted water supply to the locals as early as possible, Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar said the conservation and beautification of 150 water bodies will be completed by December this year, with plans to build 50-100 dams in 2023-2024.

Expressing gratitude to the chief minister for his support to the project involving the barrage and the pumping station in Sal-Ibrampur, Bicholim legislator Dr. Chandrakant Shetye said the residents of Sal will not face flood problems once the project is completed. He said another project worth `90 crore involving the construction of water tanks in Sal and the nearby areas will start soon.

Pernem MLA Praveen Arlekar highlighted the need for a protection wall near the river and the construction of a road from Ibrampur side.

Chairman of Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Sadanand Shet Tanavade commended Sawant and Shirodkar for their support to the project in Sal-Ibrampur.

Chief engineer of water resources department Pramod Badami briefed about the project and its technicalities.

Others present at the event included Zilla Panchayat members Pradeep Revodkar and Seema Khadpe, Sal sarpanch Savitri Ghadi, Ibrampur sarpanch Ashok Dhavaskar, Latambarcem sarpanch Padmakar Malik and panch members of the village panchayats of Sal, Ibrampur and Latambarcem.