MAPUSA
Intermittent showers that lashed several parts of Goa on Monday brought much-needed respite from the scorching heat and raised hopes of a revival of the monsoon.
However, water resources officials cautioned that the rainfall so far is insufficient to improve the precarious storage levels in the State's major dams, which continue to remain critically low after weeks of deficient rainfall.
While the return of rain has provided some relief to farmers and residents, officials said only sustained and widespread rainfall over the coming weeks can replenish reservoirs and avert a potential water crisis.
Water Resources Department (WRD) Chief Engineer Dnyaneshwar Salelkar said the revival of rainfall activity was encouraging but stressed that continuous rains were essential to restore dam storage levels.
"The resumption of rains is definitely a positive sign. However, what the dams need is prolonged and consistent rainfall. We hope the rains continue for the next couple of weeks and maintain the momentum through the monsoon season. At present, we have enough water to meet requirements for around 25 days. If rainfall remains steady, there is every possibility that reservoir levels will improve," Salelkar said.
According to the chief engineer, the Anjunem dam currently holds only about nine per cent of its storage capacity, while the Selaulim reservoir, the primary source of drinking water for much of South Goa, is at around 27 per cent capacity.
The alarming depletion in water storage follows a prolonged dry spell after the onset of the southwest monsoon, with Goa recording a significant rainfall deficit during the first half of June. The weak monsoon activity has affected agricultural operations and triggered concerns over drinking water availability if the situation persists.
Sources said senior officials of the WRD and the Department of Drinking Water (DDW) have been holding regular review meetings to assess reservoir levels and formulate contingency measures.
Field reports are being closely monitored, particularly in areas dependent on major reservoirs for drinking water supply.
Officials said the rainfall received on Monday, coupled with the India Meteorological Department's forecast of continued showers until June 27, has provided some optimism. Nevertheless, they remain cautious given the erratic behaviour of the monsoon this year.
"Everything now depends on whether the current spell develops into sustained monsoon activity. A few days of scattered showers will not be enough to significantly raise storage levels. The next two weeks will be crucial," a senior official said.
