Panaji, Jun 29: Forecasters predict a weak monsoon for Goa this year. Experts are worried. They say Goa is losing its ability to hold rainwater. This could make water scarcity worse. It could also hurt farming. And it could speed up the loss of groundwater.
Experts say Goa has lost old water habits. These habits once helped villages store rain. They also kept water flowing all year.
What Changed
Lawyer and social commentator Radharao Gracias points to one old method: closing off village lakes before the monsoon ends. This method kept groundwater levels high.
“Not long ago, every lake was bunded by mid-September and water was retained in temporary lakes, helping maintain a high water table in every village,” Gracias said. He wants Goa to bring this method back. He says it would help fight the coming water shortage.
The Science of Water Recharge
Researcher Sachin Tendulkar says Goa must return to two basic rules. First, catch rain where it falls. Second, slow the flow of water. This lets groundwater fill back up. Right now, rain flows fast into dams and out to sea. Tendulkar wants that to change. More rain should soak into the ground instead. This would help fill up underground water stores.
Concrete Is Making It Worse
Activists point to new roads like the Old Goa bypass. Long stretches of concrete now cover the ground. This concrete blocks rain from soaking in. “Imagine a 40-metre-wide stretch over 3-4 km — that entire area has been converted into an impervious surface without any provision for rainwater recharge,” an activist said.
Tendulkar agrees. He says every new road and building shrinks the land that can soak up rain. “The surface becomes impervious. At a minimum, every building should harvest rainwater from its rooftop. This must be checked before approvals are given,” he said. He added that Goa has rules on this already. But these rules are often ignored.
A Slow-Burning Crisis for Farmers
Farm department sources call this a “slow-burning crisis”. Groundwater is falling. Monsoon patterns are becoming hard to predict. “If these twin problems persist, agriculture in the state will be drastically affected. The 16% of the population that depends on farming for their livelihoods should be ready with alternatives,” a department source said.
Experts say good water planning matters most in Goa’s inland areas. This is key for farming. They also flag three areas at risk: Sattari, Sanguem, and Dharbandora. Towns are growing there. Concrete is replacing open land. Iron ore mining has also harmed these areas.
What Can Be Done
Experts suggest fixes at three levels: home, community, and policy. At home, Tendulkar wants dual plumbing. This means one pipe for clean drinking water. And a second pipe for reused water. The reused water can flush toilets or clean floors.
At the community level, Gracias wants villages to bring back lake-closing each year before the monsoon ends. This would help refill groundwater. It would also keep well water flowing in dry months. At the policy level, Tendulkar wants departments to work together. “There is no coordination between the agriculture, forest and water resources departments. That has to change,” he said.
