Key Takeaways

  • The 6th Interstate Control Board meeting in Mumbai clears Rs 330 crore to revive the Tillari Irrigation Project

  • Dam height increase also proposed

MUMBAI — The 6th Interstate Control Board meeting of the Tillari Irrigation Project, held in Mumbai on Saturday, has cleared a Rs 330 crore proposal to revive the long-stalled inter-state project shared between Goa and Maharashtra.

Officials from both state governments confirmed that the Board has approved the revival in principle and agreed to expedite pending clearances. A proposal to raise the height of the Tillari dam was also tabled, though final technical specifications are yet to be submitted.

Decades of delays

The Tillari project, conceived in the 1980s as a joint irrigation venture, has been plagued by cost overruns, land acquisition disputes, and inter-state disagreements over water sharing. Goa's share of the project was originally meant to irrigate nearly 12,000 hectares across Pernem and Bicholim talukas — a promise that remains largely unfulfilled.

"We have waited 30 years for Tillari water to reach our fields," said Raju Gaonkar, a farmer from Morjim. "Every monsoon we hear announcements, but nothing moves on the ground."

What the revival means

The Rs 330 crore outlay would cover canal construction on the Goa side, rehabilitation of damaged sections, and installation of micro-irrigation infrastructure. Raising the dam height would increase storage capacity by an estimated 15 per cent — crucial during lean monsoon years.

Goa's Water Resources Department confirmed that a detailed project report will be submitted within three months. Maharashtra is expected to bear 60 per cent of the revival cost under the existing interstate agreement.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for September in Panaji.

Editorial Team

Devika Rodrigues

By Devika Rodrigues Devika covers local Goan investigative journalism, legislative actions, and local governance policies across the state. Signal: @devika.tips.

Anant Kamat

By Anant Kamat Anant covers legislative assembly movements, regional policy reforms, and grassroots political trends in Panaji and beyond. Signal: @anant.secure.

Fiona D'Souza

By Fiona D'Souza Fiona covers the shifting coastlines, historical heritage preservation, and the vibrant cultural tapestry of Goa's traditional fishing and farming communities.

Joyner Fernandes

By Joyner Fernandes Joyner covers Goan football, village league updates, and developmental policies impacting community athletic spaces in rural talukas. Signal: @joyner.tips.

Priya Parab

By Priya Parab Priya covers environmental conservation, mining issues, Western Ghats biodiversity preservation, and village panchayat decisions. Signal: @priya.green.

Most read

Related stories