Goa to achieve water self-sufficiency by 2015: JICA(ToI)

Goa to achieve water self-sufficiency by 2015: JICA TNN | Sep 9, 2013, 01.20 AM IST PANAJI: Dataquest-CyberMedia While the forecasted demand of water in Goa by 2025 is 593 MLD (million litres per day), the total capacity of the water treatment plants in Goa will become 599 MLD by 2015, said A M Wachasundar, project director of the JICA (Japan international co-operation agency) project in Goa. The present water supply capacity in Goa is 464MLD which is generated from seven regional water treatment plants including Selaulim, Assonora and five others. Wachasundar said that the government has already initiated action to create additional treatment plant capacities as follows. Maisal (10 MLD) and Gangem (25 MLD), both to be commissioned by 2014. While Goa has existing capacity of 464, Selaulim is being augmented by 100 MLD and this is expected to be commissioned by 2015. This adds upto 599 MLD. But augmenting capacity and enhancing supply is not the only concern of the government. Earlier, the mandate for water supply in Goa was "maximum coverage" without much emphasis on sustainability, accountability and financial viability. But now, the changed mandate and vision is "to make the water supply sector self-sustainable with 24x7 potable water supply to all of Goa without any discrimination between urban and rural areas," said Wachasundar. Also part of the new mandate is a requirement to achieve judicious use of water and efficient and optimum use of infrastructure, said Wachasundar, who is also the immediate former principal chief engineer of Goa PWD. During the year 2005-06, JICA undertook a detailed study of Goa's water sector based on tripartite agreement between the governments of India, Japan and Goa. Taking into consideration the norms of the government of India, habits and requirements of the people of Goa and their paying capacity and willingness for payment, service level of 150 lpcd (litres per capita per day) for urban population and 100 lpcd for rural area is considered. The unaccounted flow of water level (UFW) of about 20% is aimed considering development of the capacity of PWD staff. Other non-domestic requirements such as touristic, institutional, defence, industrial, hotels, hospitals etc. was considered. In summer, the consumption and demand increases correspondingly. Peak factor of 15% is considered to take this into account. All the requirements are forecast for 20 years i.e. for the year 2025. Forecasting of population is done taking into account average decadal growth. Growth in non-domestic requirements including touristic requirements was worked out based on discussions and data available with different departments. Master plan of development as prepared by town and country planning department is taken into account to understand area-wise demand of water in future, Wachasunder said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-to-achieve-water-self-sufficiency-by-2015-JICA/articleshow/22424257.cms