Daijiworld Media Network

Ponda, Jun 5: To tackle water crisis at the Opa water treatment plant (WTP), the water resources department (WRD) has decided to construct inverse dams at three mining pits near the river bank. WRD officials hope the ongoing project will be completed by next summer.

The department is planning to construct inverse dams at a pit near Shree Someshwar temple in Codli, Zarapkar’s mine pit and at Karmane pit near Dabal in Dharbandora, said WRD canal officer Ankush Gaonkar.

“While rejuvenating the Opa, these dams will also help the existing four treatment plants and an upcoming 27MLD plant at Khandepar village in Ponda taluka.” said Gaonkar. The 140MLD Opa water works consist of four separate treatment plants including 8 MLD, 12 MLD, 54 MLD and 40 MLD plants that collectively supply water to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas. With the commissioning of the 27MLD plant, the Opa treatment facility will pump 167 MLD water daily.

The idea of inverse dam has come up to support the rising need of water. In an inverse dam, water is fetched with pumps and then released into the river basin. The regular dam then releases water through gravity. “A normal dam needs no electricity to release water once the gates are open. In an inverse dam, power is needed as water has to be pumped from the dam and released in the river basin,” Gaonkar said, as reported in TOI.