Two new open-type bandharas are being constructed in Canacona taluka to address recurring water shortages, prevent salinity from entering freshwater sources and improve groundwater recharge for local communities and farms.
The water resources department is building one bandhara near Adarsh Gram at Mushifond-Amonem in Poinguinim and has started work on another at Jaifond-Ponsulemoll in Cotigao. The structures will be built across river stretches to slow the flow of water and help retain freshwater during the dry season.
The Canacona bandharas are part of a wider plan announced by the department to construct around 100 new structures across Goa. Once completed, the additions would take the total number of such bandharas on the state’s rivers to about 500. The department expects the structures to conserve water for the summer months.
At Mushifond-Amonem, the open-type bandhara is expected to arrest river flow and help recharge groundwater along the riverbank. Local residents said improved water availability could also support coconut and betel nut plantations in the area.
The structure at Jaifond-Ponsulemoll is intended to retain freshwater and restrict the movement of saline water into freshwater sources. According to the report, improved groundwater levels could help farmers cultivate rabi crops such as paddy, vegetables and chillies during the dry season. The additional water storage may also allow residents to continue cultivating their land during periods of scarcity.
The construction follows a 32% rainfall deficit reported in Goa this year. Farmers and residents of Canacona had demanded open-type bandharas and submitted a memorandum to the water resources department office in the taluka.
Water shortages have also been reported in parts of Canacona during years with normal rainfall. The problem is particularly acute in tribal belts such as Cotigao and Gaondongrim, where the area’s high elevation affects local water availability.
The bandharas are therefore being built not only as storage structures but also as local water-management infrastructure. Their stated functions combine river-flow regulation, groundwater recharge, protection of freshwater from salinity and support for agriculture. The immediate focus is on the two sites at Mushifond-Amonem and Jaifond-Ponsulemoll, while the wider state-level programme is expected to add further structures across Goa.
