Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Jun 17: While welcoming Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant’s decision to stress on rainwater harvesting, the water conservationists in the state have said that government should implement the assurance given by Manohar Parrikar to draw 15 years plan to rejuvinate ground water table.

Participating in NITI Ayog meeting on Saturday, Sawant said that stress would be laid on rainwater harvesting to avoid scarcity of water in the coastal state.

Chief minister’s statement has been welcomed by conservationists.

Renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said that efforts should be focused toward recycling the water, specially by industrial or commercial units, who draw water from the rivers in uncontrolled fashion.

He said that all the rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory for all the industrial units, so that they can suffice their own requirement of water, at least for few months rather than relying on government.

Kerkar said that chief minister’s intervention has come at the right time as Goa might face water crisis if Karnataka diverts the water from Mahadayi river as per the order of Mahadayi Water dispute tribunal.

In August last year, Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal had allowed Karnataka to use 13.4 TMC of water from Mahadayi basin.

Kerkar said that state government should work out implementable action plan for conserving the existing lakes and wells in the state.

Environmentalist Sachin Tendulkar who works as senior programme manager for non profit organization Mineral Foundation of Goa said that quantity and quality of water is a matter of concern when we think of water security for future Goa.

“We should first concentrate on rainwater recharge in higher reaches and in foothills of Goa through micro watershed based approach,” he said.

“A 15 year perspective plan pegged at 150 crore is lying in cold storage with department of Agriculture for the past three years. A mention about this is made by former CM Manohar Parrikar in budget speech in 2011,” he pointed out.

Tendulkar said that the same can be revived by coordinating efforts of forest department (as major area is under forest), Rural Development department to give employment to Rojgar beneficiaries registered under MGNREGS which is suffering for want of funds.

“There is also need to co-ordinate efforts of Pollution Control Board, Public Works Department and Water Resources Department to prevent more pollution of already polluted water bodies,” he added.

He said that recycling of grey water in urban areas to reduce use of fresh treated water, plugging of 35 per cent of non revenue water by PWD, regulating and optimising irrigation water are other measures that need immediate attention.

Tendulkar said that the plan should be demonstrated in the mining talukas of Goa by adopting one panchayat each under participative rainwater harvesting through District Mineral Fund.

“The mining pit water should be equitably distributed in its place of origin to first take care of local and then feed to cities,” he added.