Canacona: The Chapoli dam in Canacona reached its maximum capacity around 7.30am on July 20 and started overflowing at its spillway. The taluka received a little over 40mm of rains over the last 24 hours, taking the total rainfall to 2,071mm.Chapoli dam is the only source of irrigation for nearly 50% of paddy, sugarcane and other cultivation in the taluka. It also caters to the water needs of over 70% of the taluka.Assistant engineer Dhananjay Nagvekar said that the heavy rains since the last week of May and starting of June, has caused the water level in the dam to increase considerably. The Gaunem minor irrigation dam came to its full capacity on June 19.The Chapoli dam was commissioned in 2000.The 760m earthen dam catering to the irrigational and drinking water needs of most of Canacona taluka is fed by a nullah originating from the hills of Chapoli and has a catchment area of 6.8 sq km.Canacona receives a mean annual rainfall of 4,500mm, added Nagvekar.
