Panaji: Water supply from the Tillari canal to Goa will be shut for three months from Oct 1 to Dec 31, allowing Maharashtra to carry out major, long-pending repair works on the canal, said water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar on Wednesday. Shirodkar said that during the Tillari canal closure period, alternative supply will be provided through the new pumping facility and pipeline laid down recently from Amthane to Cunchelim.“The left and right bank canals on Maharashtra side carrying the water to Goa from Tillari will be repaired during these three months. Around 20-22km of the pipeline of their side had not been repaired for the past 30 years. Goa will pay 75% of the repair cost, while 25% will be borne by Maharashtra,” said Shirodkar.Around Rs 1.8 crore will be spent on the repairs.Water from Tillari is supplied to the talukas of Pernem, Bicholim, and Bardez. Though the canal would be shut for short periods every winter for repairs, it could not be shut down for the entire period required to carry out the major repairs needed due to lack of alternative supply arrangement to these three talukas.Shirodkar said that now that the new pipeline has been laid from Amthane to Cunchelim, its trial will begin from Sept 1 to ensure its smooth functioning before the Tillari canal is shut. Testing of the pipeline is already complete, he said.Once the major repairs of Tillari canal are complete, frequent canal breaches are expected to end.The entire length of the Tillari canals from the reservoir in Maharashtra is around 150km. The canals were constructed 20-25 years ago. The Tillari irrigation project was constructed in Dodamarg jointly by Maharashtra and Goa govts to meet the requirements of both states.
