PANAJI/BICHOLIM: People residing along the banks of River Chapora in Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez talukas were put on alert from Tuesday evening by the water resources department (WRD), after there was an increase in water in the Tillari reservoir, causing a spillway into the river.
However, WRD officials said that the alert was issued as a precautionary measure and that the water level in the river was 4m below the danger mark until late Wednesday evening.
“We are monitoring the situation and Maharashtra officials are monitoring the situation at the Tillari reservoir round-the-clock and giving us updates.
The river level is 4m below the danger level at present and there is no cause for worry,” said WRD executive engineer MK Prasad.
The gates of the Tillari reservoir in Dodamarg, Maharashtra, are opened in May.
After the arrival of the monsoon, as the reservoir fills up and reaches 70% of its capacity, the excess water spills into the River Tillari.
This river is known as the Chapora river as it enters Goa at Sal, Bicholim.Spillway from the dam causes water in the Tillar and the Chapora to swell.
In 2019, villagers in Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez taluka, living along the Chapora, experienced flooding after release of water from the Tillari.
“The gates of the Tillari dam will be closed around August 10-15, after the heavy rainfall period is over.
This allows for storage of raw water,” Prasad said.
The water from the Tillari is used by Maharashtra and Goa to meet drinking water and irrigation needs.
However, farmers in Sal, Menkurem, Pirna, Imbrampur and other villages in Pernem, Bicholim, Bardez and Sattari taluka said that there is no proper co-ordination from Tillari dam authorities while discharging the dam water.
Villagers said the water should be released as per indication from the meteorology department, when there is no heavy rain.
Since the last four years, farmers along the banks of the Chapora suffer losses of fully grown crops when the rise in river water destroys crops, said a farmer Ratikant Parab.