PONDA: The water level at the Opa reservoir has started going down below the required limit for pumping, and the level is being maintained by channelising water from the Ganjem facility on Mhadei river.
Everyday the Opa water treatment plant on Khandepar river treats and supplies around 140 MLD of water to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas. To treat that quantum of water, the plant requires to keep water level of 2.50 metre, which has been at 2.55 metres at present.
WRD’s assistant engineer Sanjay Prabhu said the new barrage at Opa has increased the storage capacity of the reservoir. However, this year overall water storage has dwindled bringing down the water level in March itself.
Officials warned that Ponda and Tiswadi talukas could face water scarcity in May.
On an average 35 MLD of water is channelised from Ganjem, Bandhara facilities and the Selaulim dam. If the water level goes down below 2.5 metre then the plant will not be able to pump 140 MLD of water which could bring about water crisis in both the talukas.
Sources said that some days back the water level at the plant had gone below the minimum limit required for pumping. To keep up the required level, water from the Ganjem facility on the Mhadei was channelised.
It must be noted here that the Opa barrage was constructed at the cost of around Rs 30.40 crore hoping to end water scarcity in the summer.