Goa to face acute water shortage: GCCI

PANAJI: Goa will suffer an acute water shortage as its demand is expected to touch 575 mld as against the current 415 mld in few years, according to an apex industrial body report.

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), in its recent report, said instant measures have to be adopted to curb water deficit affecting the coastal tourist state in the near future. "It is estimated that Goa's unrestricted demand reaches over 415 mld, while the average availability of water from regional water treatment plants is only 204 mld, resulting in a deficit of nearly 211 mld," the report said.

The water shortage, according to GCCI, is partly because of the profound demographic shifts with people migrating from rural to urban areas in search of work and opportunities.

The GCCI has also suggested renovation, modernisation and augmentation of distribution network besides methods such as water harvesting and water conservation to tackle the shortage.