Ponda: The Mhaisal dam currently holds adequate water reserves, eliminating the need to reduce supply, according to Sunil Shet, assistant engineer overseeing the water treatment plant at Panchawadi. He stated that the plant supplies an additional 2 million liters per day (MLD) to the villages of Panchawadi and Shiroda.
Dam Capacity and Water Levels
The Mhaisal dam, which provides water to the entire Panchawadi village and parts of Shiroda, has a storage capacity of 436.8 hectare meters (HaM). Shet confirmed that this volume is sufficient to meet the drinking water needs of both villages for the next two months. The dam, stretching 230 meters in length, has a full reservoir level of 26 meters. As of Thursday, the water level stood at 20.5 meters, compared to 20.1 meters on the corresponding date last year—a difference of 39 centimeters.
Reasons for Improved Water Availability
Officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) attribute the higher water level this year to the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon, despite the scorching heat experienced recently. This has helped maintain adequate storage in the dam.
Water Supply in Ponda Taluka
The Ponda taluka primarily receives potable water from the Opa water treatment plant. However, Shiroda and Panchawadi villages are served by the Panchawadi plant, while Borim gets 10 MLD from the Shelpe plant at Selaulim Dam. The Opa Water Works comprises five treatment plants that collectively supply around 161 MLD to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas, as per Shet. These plants draw raw water from the Opa river, which recorded a level of 3.5 meters on Thursday.
Efforts to Rejuvenate Opa River
Sadanand Naik, assistant engineer of WRD responsible for maintaining the water level at Opa river, said the department has so far opened four bandharas (check dams)—Collem 1, Collem 2, Kumbharwada, and Matojanwada—to rejuvenate the Opa river. These measures aim to sustain water availability in the region.
