Future of water in Goa

Like rest part of India, the Goan too considered water as the elixir of life and respect it as a holy entity. Water is the life sustaining and hence it is needed for the most of the life forms. Goa, geographically a small state of the Indian union, has today became known to be the popular tourist’s destinations mainly due to the natural beauty, availability of good quality of potable water and also on account favorable climatic condition. Since the prehistoric period, Goa has been attracting human beings and the rivers and other sources of water have sustained the culture. The prehistoric rock carvings found at Pansaimol in Sanguem, Pirla and Cazur in Quepem on the bank of the Kushavati river, Mauxi in Sattari on the bank of Zarme rivulet has already thrown light on the significance of river as the cradle of the first settlers of the land.  Unlike other parts of India, Goa being nestled on the West coast, receives copious rainfall from the South West monsoons that is heaviest at the mountain ranges and on its Western slopes, it gradually declines towards the coastal plains. The total precipitation is however, limited to the period from June to September.

 

Goa is drained by eleven rivers and its more than 50 tributaries that are totally monsoonal rain-fed. All these rivers are the main arteries of the watershed, which supplies the nutrients essential for the survival of different life forms. Goa’s all the rivers are rain-fed and the huge volumes of monsoonal water falls within the watershed areas and then are drained out through the major rivers to the sea. As the Goan rivers are tidal, the salinity factor in the rivers varies sharply between the monsoon and the non-monsoon periods, and on account of this, the quality of waters in well along the river banks, which tend to get increasingly saline as the summer advance. As runoff occurs of water from the land surface through the rivers and from underground water, the Goans traditionally have harvested through artificially created tanks. Though, the arrival and departure of the monsoons are connected with the movement of the sun, its heating of the land and sea masses and the consequent movement of air currents; however, it has been revealed that the pace under large areas of forests, were receiving good precipitation. Due to deforestation, the intensity is increased thereby decreasing the duration of rainfall, enhancing runoff, even if the mean rainfall remains unchanged.

 

The main source of ground water recharge in Goa is the monsoonal rainfall that varies from about 2500 mm along the coast to about 4500 mm towards the Western Ghats. The magnitude of recharge to ground water also varies from place to place, depending in the nature of the surface soil and rocks characteristics. Water stress conditions arise wherever the quantity of ground water extracted within a given watershed exceeds the total recharge. The growing rate of extraction of fresh water from rivers and lakes is matched by increasing extraction of ground water, with many aquifers now seriously depleting. The volume of ground water withdrawal, primarily for irrigation but also for urban and industrial use, exceeds long-term recharge rates. In the coastal region, water withdrawals are mainly on account of tourism, high population density and to some extent industrial use. Natural hydro-geological conditions also add to the salinity intrusion in coastal aquifers. In the hinterland of Goa, mining activities have badly affected aquifers. Tourism, mining, deforestation, insufficient sewage treatment plants and garbage disposal facilities and other activities in Goa have been resulted in causing water stress. In the areas where the industrial estates have been established, in the vicinity of some areas, water of the wells and streams have been found contaminated and presence of arsenic and other detrimental elements have been detected.

 

As, supply of drinking water has become uncertain many hoteliers are purchasing water from several water peddlers who are selling on an average 75,000 to 90,000 litres of good potable water every day. In, the industrial estates bore wells have been dug for meeting increasing needs of water. Earlier, committee constituted by Goa government to survey bore wells by various industrial units had unearthed gross illegalities and had recommended immediate capping of all these bore wells. Indiscriminate extraction of water has affected seriously ground water table.

 

In Goa, the haphazard mining activities have been accounted for causing irreparable losses to ground water resources. A study done by G. T. Marathe of IIT Mumbai has revealed that the open caste mining of iron ore affected ground water. Ore belt between Usgao and Honda, study recorded a marked drop in the ground water level from 55 mts above mean sea level to 35 mts above mean sea level between 1960 and 1980. The mining operations have increased the turbidity of the water reaching the Opa Treatment Plant. It is a well-known fact that in the surroundings of the catchment area of the Salaulim dam there were several iron and Ferro-manganese ore mines which were contributing large quantities of discarded slimes to the water.

 

The study conducted by Dr. A. G. Chachadi earlier associated with Goa University has indicated that the mining in Goa has not only diverted to the base-flow of components from rivers but the nearby surface water bodies, springs and even soil moisture in nearby agricultural lands have been depleted. In Goa, most of the mines are located in close proximity to the rivers. When the ground water from mine pits which are far below the river bed level is pumped, the base-flow getting into the river is cut off; besides the river bed itself may go dry if the mine is very close by. Presently, the level of fresh water inside the main rivers like the Mhadei, the Zuari and others have been found drastically reduced. Crisis of drinking water are continuously rise in rural as well as urban areas of Goa. Non availability of sufficient drinking water have been forcing the wild animals to move out of the natural habitat, thereby intensifying man-wildlife conflict.

 

Once upon a time, the Goans intelligently had designed structures to store the rain water for meeting their requirement of water during the dry seasons. During the era of the Goa Kadamba ruler, Goa was facing the paucity of water and therefore a huge earthen embankment was built in 1103 A.D. at a place lying at the foothills enveloped with the dense forest cover from a valley near Bhatim-Talaulim, known today as Kuzmorayachem tollem or Bhatim Lake in Tiswadi. In the most of the villages of Goa, the villagers built hundreds of such reservoirs. The Bondvel lake was one of the important sources of water for the villagers of St. Cruz but today not only Bondvel but also more than hundreds of ancient man made reservoirs are on the verge of extinction due to the apathy of the people whose ancestors were involved annually before the onset of the monsoon in desilting of these water bodies and maintaining such reservoirs efficiently. The goddess Mandodari has no connection with the wife of Ravan, the ruler of Lanka mentioned in the epic Ramayana; Mandodari worshipped in Mandur of Tiswadi and Betki of Ponda are the local folk deities associated with manmade water reservoirs, installed by the locals to protect and preserve the resources of drinking water.

 

The most of the fresh water lakes in Goa once were providing the picturesque landscape. These age-old rain-fed, reservoirs of water, dating back to the pre-Portuguese period. These fresh water lakes with their diverse floral and faunal forms are rich repositories of biodiversity. Every year, this lake becomes homes for a large number of resident and migratory birds. However today, many of these lakes have been threatened by weed infestation, anthropogenic pressure, and siltation and of various developmental activities undertaken in the haphazard manners.

 

The natural springs with their medicinal and rejuvenating qualities have become integrated with local folklore. The Goans since the hoary past are making use of these springs mainly for the drinking and domestic purposes. Water of a large number of these springs have been aptly collected in the constructed tanks and were used for traditionally irrigation purpose. But today, these springs have been forgotten to manage by the local communities, thereby contaminating the outflow considerably. Though, chemical and micro-biological result of the study of springs show that the water of the springs are free from contamination and are relatively clean and suitable for consumption, but with the introduction of supply of water through taps have made the community to forget the significance of the spring. Development and beautification of some of the important springs have focused on concretization of the spring rather protecting sustainably and this has resulted in affecting their quality of water. The well, too are used as the source of drinking water. However, many of these wells today are neglected and their water has been hardly used by the community for drinking. Water of the well in the vicinity of the mines has been found in many cases unfit for human and animal consumption in the villages like Shirgao, Pissurle.

 

Karnataka government since 2006, unilaterally violating the provision of Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, has undertaken the work of the construction of huge canal in Kankumbi for diverting the natural flow of the Kalasa rivulet going in the direction of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. On 14/08/2018 the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal has permitted Karnataka to divert 3.9 TMC of water through Kalasa-Bhandura project outside the Mhadei basin and 1.5 TMC for inside basin whereas 1.33 TMC have been allotted to Maharashtra from Virdi for in basin use, after obtaining necessary statutory clearances. Karnataka and Maharashtra has already filed a separate Special Leave Petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court seeking an enhancement of the allocation of water and matter is pending before the Court for the hearing. The Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan, Goa has filed the petition before the Hon. Supreme Court of India against the environmental and ecological damages caused by undertaking the Kalasa canal work. Considering the projected water needs of Goa till 2050 A. D. it has been established by the Master Plan in 1998 that Mhadei is a water deficit basin and hence there is no scope exist for water diversion. Inspite of this, Karnataka after completing ongoing work of the Kalasa-Bhandura Project, has planned to undertake dozens of projects of damming and diverting various tributaries of the Mhadei and other rivers providing potable water to Goa. If these plans are materialized, then Goa will face serious problem of water.

Karnataka’s proposed Projects	Diversion Quantity
Outside basin diversion from Katla and Palna tributaries of Dudhsagar river to Supa reservoir in Kali nadi basin	3.85 tmc
Diversion from Khandepar River to Supa reservoir in Kali nadi basin	1.06 tmc
Outside basin diversion from Kotni project, Mhadei basin to Malaprabha river in Krishna basin	3.99tmc

 

Today, global warming and climate change phenomena too resulted in water stress in various parts of the World and its impact on Goa in particular is being felt in the form of changing rainfall patterns as well as the amount of rains received. As per the assessment made by the Central Water Commission the water resources of Goa have been estimated at 8,570 m cm. However, due to topographical, geological and other constraints the level of utilisation of resources for irrigation is expected to be 1465 m cm. (1125mcm surface and 340 mcm ground water) plus 300 mcm for domestic, industrial use, etc. (200 mcm by surface water and 100 mcm by ground water). The Central Government Water Board has estimated the available ground water resources in Goa to the extent of 132.74 mcm. Goa Government has already enacted the Ground Water Regulation Act-2002 and constituted the Ground Water Cell to control and regulate ground water resources and its utilisation in the state. Government in order to cater the immediate need of drinking water and considering the geological conditions, has decided to inter-linked rivers in combination with post monsoonal water harvesting and ground water recharge methods by constructing almost 193 bandharas for holding storage of 5646.09 lakh cum. In response to the National Policy to encourage Participatory Irrigation Management, Goa has formed 86 Water Users Associations to handle, operate and maintain the network of distributaries and water courses in these command areas. Along with Salaulim, Anjunem and Tillari medium Projects, there are minor irrigation dams at Chapoli in Canacona, Panchawadi in Ponda and Amthane in Bicholim.

LIFT IRRIGATION SCHEMES

❖ 57 Nos. irrigating 3450 Ha.

RAW WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES

❖ 6 Nos. at Ganjem, Sal, Kalay, Mopa, Davorlim & Verna.

Raw Water to Water Supply Schemes

Sr. No.	Water Treatment Plants	Caters to	Capacity	Source
1.	Chandel WTP	Pernem	15 MLD	Tillari/ Kalna
2.	Assonora WTP	Bardez	100 MLD	Tillari/Amthane
3.	Sankhali WTP	Bicholim	82 MLD	Valvanti river
4.	Keri WTP	Keri	2 MLD	Anjunem Dam
5.	Dabos WTP	Sattari	15 MLD	Mhadei river
6.	Opa WTP	Ponda/Tiswadi	220 MLD	Khandepar River
7.	Salauli WTP	South Goa	260 MLD	Salauli Dam
8.	Panchwadi WTP	Ponda	15 MLD	Maisal Dam
9.	Chapoli Dam	Canacona	10 MLD	Chapoli Dam

 

Storage Capacity Created

Sr. No.	Scheme	Storage in MCM
1.	Tillari (Goa’s share)	325.00
2.	Salaulim	227.16
3.	Anjunem	44.83
4.	Amthane	5.97
5.	Panchwadi	4.47
6.	Chapoli	11.22
7.	Gavnem	1.77
8.	Bandharas	13.49
Total		633.91

 

All these steps and measures have been undertaken by Goa government to solve the problem of water crisis. However, in coming days, if serious thought and sincere efforts are not made to protect the forests cover of the land and its eco-sensitivity, the future of water in Goa will be bleak. Though, various political parties repeatedly during the election campaigns give tall promises of providing smooth supply of drinking water, in reality, it has proved to be the mirage, as people even during the rainy season unable to get drinking water, they found protesting.

Valuing water, recognizes the crucial role of healthy ecosystem in maintaining water supplies. Today, 2.2 billion people of the global population suffer access to safe water, global water demand is projected to increase by 55 percent by 2015. Forests, wetlands, grasslands and mangroves provides valuable ecosystem services for water by protecting and filtering source water, regulating water flows over time and protecting communities from climate intensifying water related disaster. There is need of paying attention towards indigenous people and local community that are leading the way in implementing nature based solutions to solve water biodiversity and climate crisis. Protecting forests, reforesting and improving agricultural methods upstream could improve water quality.

Total requirement of drinking water in Goa is 589 MLD of which government is supplying 513 MLD . There is shortage of 76.37 MLD. Work of Water  Treatment Plant of 10 MLD in Porvoriem is in progress. A plan is also a foot to pump out from abandoned mining pits.There is need to create sense of judicious use of water through emphasis on Water Literacy.

 

References:

1.      Fish Curry and Rice, Edited by Dr. Claude Alvares (2002)

2.      Gazetteer of India (Goa, Daman and Diu) Edited by Dr. V. T. Gune (1979)

3.      The Heritage of Govapuri- Fr. Cosme Costa (2002)

4.      Environment and Development: Goa at Cross roads- Dr. Sangeeta Sonak (2014)

5.      Economic Survey (2013-14) Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation

6.      Rivers of Goa: Rajendra Kerkar (2016)