“Work on the Pale plant is almost complete, the Ganjem plant is 91% complete, and the Chandel plant is expected to be ready this May. The Tuem plant is likely to be completed by Dec 2024,” said an official.
At present, the drinking water requirement in the whole of Pernem taluka is being catered to by only one 15MLD treatment plant at Chandel. Once the new plant is ready, this will increase the capacity for treatment at Chandel to 30MLD.
This along with the 30MLD Tuem plant will enhance Pernem taluka’s water treatment capacity from 15MLD to 60MLD. A barrage is being constructed at Sal in Bicholim across the Chapora river, from where raw water and supply from the Tillari will be provided to these new plants in Pernem for treatment. This will also help meet the water requirements of the Mopa airport.
Besides the plants, works for improvement of water supply in the St Andre and Cumbharjua constituencies are also under way and nearing completion. Goa is staring at 38% non-revenue water, or loss of water from the supply chain due to old pipelines. The state has been vying for central govt assistance in replacing the entire water supply pipeline network with a new one. Over Rs 300 crore will be needed to complete the task.
Goa was the first state in the country to be declared to have achieved 100% water supply connections to households under the Har Ghar Jal mission. Despite this, it faces a shortage of around 65MLD of treated water.
