When the well is dry, water’s worth is known.

When the well is dry, water’s worth is known.

Not many Goans would have heard these words of Benjamin Franklin, the acclaimed scientist and one of the founding fathers of USA. But the manner in which region after region (Porvorim, Bicholim, Pernem… the list grows) in Goa is facing a water crisis just a couple of months since the monsoons departed, the scenario is too scary and discomforting. And even if Goa’s PWD Minister tells us that “Actually, a human being can wash his or her body with just two litres of water. The remaining 118 litres of water goes to the gutters,” the fact remains that neither the Goa government nor Goans are bothered whether there will even be water for each one of us in times to come. 

Earlier in June this year, Niti Aayog released the Composite Water Management Index Report aimed at assessing and improving efficient management of water resources across different states. In its foreword, Niti Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant wrote, “It’s a matter of concern that 600 million people in India face high to extreme water stress in the country. About three-fourths of the households in the country do not have drinking water at their premise. With nearly 70% of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index.” As per the report of National Commission for Integrated Water Resource Development of Union Ministry of Water Resources, the water requirement by 2050 would rise to 1,180 billion cubic metres (BCM). Presently the availability of water in India is 695 BCM and the maximum total availability of water possible in the country would not exceed 1,137 BCM. Despite its obsession with future driven infrastructure, smart cities and infotech revolution, India stares at a grim water future. 

For an average Goenkar that wouldn’t mean much of a cause for concern. From satellite images and even views from the sky when your aircraft is airborne, Goa may look all green and abundant but that belies its water crisis. Everybody knows about how hundreds of illicit borewells hidden behind high walls of many industries, siphoned off groundwater off Verna Industrial Estate’s once water-soaked plateau. Many even know of how the Porvorim plateau that once held hectares of forests and vegetation got sucked out by real estate ravagers. But as the PWD Minister would like us to believe are only the common men and businesses responsible? Not exactly.

As per the Composite Water Management Index Report of 2018, Goa ranks 44th in Composite Water Index scores that shows the state level performance of water resource management. The composite water management index comprises nine parameters and 28 indicators. These include various aspects of groundwater, irrigation, restoration of water bodies, farm practices, drinking water, policy and governance. Goa came 14th after the top performing States of India that included States much bigger in size and even smaller to it including neighbours Maharashtra and Karnataka. Goa was amongst poor performers. In fact, Goa’s water resources management performance has fallen and its rank slipping over the years in recent times as per the Niti Aayog Report. And mind you, the data came from Goa government itself.

The summers are still half a year away and the cracks in water resources are showing. As government through its Investment Promotion Board, Regional Plan 2021, Tourism Master Plan hastens up the development of Goa, its basic premise for these developments – the abundant supply of water floats on undeclared and inadequate water resources data.