the goan I network
CANACONA
The Chapoli dam, the lifeline of the people of Canacona, continues to be below its full capacity, with the seasonal rains also below the mark.
According to the taluka observatory, the reservoir of Chapoli dam has so far attained 36.96 RL (Reduced Level) against the seasonal total of 2,342 mm of rainfall as on Monday.
Last year, the dam reservoir overflowed at 38.75 RL on August 24 against the seasonal rainfall of 2,400 mm.
The dam's reservoir attaining its full capacity as late as in September is nothing new, but what worries the farmers and the residents in general is the lack of rainfall normally witnessed in the taluka over the past few years.
"Though observatory's recordings may be academic importance, we feel there is a huge decline of rainfall over the past few years. Unfortunately, this year no river or any rivulet in Canacona taluka, could witness any flooding, which in the past years were a regular phenomenon," said a senior citizen, Natividade De Sa. "This shows how the rains which are always blessings in disguise for a healthy seasons ahead has been drastically reducing every passing yearm" added De Sa.
The Chapoli dam with a depth of 25.5 m has approximately 12 kms of catchment area and has a history of attaining its full reservoir capacity as late as September, even when the taluka had good rainfall.
It was only in its commissioning year 2000, it became full well ahead of time on July 7 and second time it was in 2011 when it got full on July 31.
Besides the entire tourism industry, especially the core of tourism pockets in Canacona Municipal Council, hundreds of households and many farmers who take up summer cultivation in the taluka are totally dependent on the dam's supply.
