North Goa: Govt to spend Rs 4 Bn on Tillar reservoir revamp

Jadhav mentioned that once the work begins, it will take at least three years to complete the project. He added that the entire length of the Tillari canals within Maharashtra is approximately 150 kilometers, and these canals, constructed 20-25 years ago, have undergone significant weathering, necessitating the relining with concrete. He also noted that it would take around six months for the government to sanction the project, after which the work could progress.

The raw water from the Tillari reservoir is supplied to meet the irrigation needs and the drinking water requirements (after treatment) of Maharashtra's Dodamarg and Sawantwadi regions, as well as Goa's northern sub-districts of Pernem, Bicholim, and Bardez. In recent years, frequent breaches in the Tillari canals have led to interruptions in the raw water supply to Goa. Treatment plants in Assonora, Porvorim, and Chandel are dependent on this water source.

Goa officials have often attributed the disruption in water supply to poor maintenance of the Maharashtra side of the canals. Last year, the Tillari irrigation project officials in Maharashtra carried out the first major repairs of the canals in 22 years, targeting areas where deterioration was found. These repairs, completed over 45 days, were conducted on both the left and right bank canals. The Tillari irrigation project, constructed in Dodamarg through a joint effort by the Maharashtra and Goa governments, was designed to meet the water needs of both states. However, breaches in the canals have previously caused flooding and crop destruction in Bicholim. The poor condition of the canals has also resulted in high turbidity in the water, making it challenging for Goa's treatment plants to make the water potable.