BICHOLIM: The left bank of the main canal of the Tillari dam has once again developed a huge crack. The breach occurred at Maneri, Dhangarwadi in Maharashtra’s Dodamarg taluka around 3.30am on Sunday. This resulted in water gushing into nearby fields and plantations, prompting the authorities to stop supply to Goa.
The Tillari dam provides raw water to the Assonora treatment plant which then supplies it to Bardez taluka and parts of Bicholim.
Last year the canal had breached at Sateli-Bhedshi Khanyale, a few kilometres away. A few months ago, the left main canal of the Tillari, which runs through Maneri, Dodamarg, Kelichetemb and Ambeli, had collapsed at Mhavlankarwadi, which is adjacent to the present breach area. Farmers, who have pineapple plantations, had brought this to the notice of the engineer concerned.
Over the last 30 years, crores of rupees have been spent on repairs, but such breaching incidents continue on the Maharashtra side. CM Pramod Sawant has already approved a project to lay a pipeline to carry water from Tillari to Goa border to help avoid such incidents.
It may be recalled that water supply to Goa was cut off a few months ago during the monsoon due to landslides in several places on the left and right canals of the Tillari dam.
Following the canal developing a crack, the water pressure began causing the soil filling to collapse forcing the authorities to stop supply immediately. Even after this, water continued flowing from the canal till 10am and stopped only by 11am.
