Panaji: Despite a rain deficit of over 30% in the first two months of the monsoon, three water reservoirs in the state reached 100% capacity, including Selaulim, Panchawadi and Gaunem.Tillari and Amthane reached 85% capacity, while Anjunem and Chapoli reached just above 65% capacity.WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar said that all the dams would reach their full capacity by Aug 15. He also said that the monsoon has picked up in the state and it will help to increase the water levels in the dams.Shirodkar said that WRD will monitor the water situation better than last year so that there is no water shortage in future.Selaulim reservoir, which supplies most of South Goa, began overflowing at 3.30pm on July 30, the latest spillover recorded in 13 years. Last year, the dam — which is Goa’s largest — overflowed on June 25, while spillover typically occurs in the first or second week of July.The duckbill spillway is designed to pass a maximum flood discharge of 1,450 cubic metres per second. Excess water flows into Selaulim river and is used for irrigation. The reservoir’s water spread area is 24sqkm.Similarly, Anjunem reservoir, which is 66% full at present, is the only dam in Goa with manual gates. Tillari reservoir, which supplements water supply to the same areas, is 85% full. The dam, which is in Maharashtra, has manually operated gates that are opened to release excess water once levels cross 93%.Shirodkar said that the department will monitor rainfall closely and may close bandhara gates this month — rather than in the usual Nov — if the monsoon remains weak, to store more water.Govt has also sought a detailed report on the proposed Sancoale dam and Davorlim lake after concerns over alleged land conversion. WRD and DWD officials will jointly inspect the sites.By next year, water treatment capacity is expected to rise by nearly 50% with new plants adding a combined 325MLD, taking total capacity to around 1,000 MLD — above the current drinking water requirement of 700MLD.
