Pramod Sawant writes to Maharashtra CM over Dhamne dam

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has written to his counterpart in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, asking him to take immediate and elaborate remedial measures to ensure the safety of the Dhamne dam located in Kunj district. The letter comes on the heels of a video going around on social media showing cracks in the dam which are causing leakages.
The Dhamne dam is located just upstream of the Tillari irrigation project, which is a joint venture between Goa and Maharashtra.
Reacting to reports in some local dailies regarding leakages in the dam, Sawant, in his letter, said, “The safety of the dam is of paramount importance to the state of Goa as any eventuality will have direct consequences on the Tillari dam which is downstream as well as the Terwenmedhe pickup weir, which will consequently result in disaster in talukas of Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez in Goa.”
Sawant’s letter further stated that though the Dhamne dam, which is mainly for hydropower generation, is a project solely belonging to Maharashtra, the tail races and excess flow are released into the Tillari river.
“I request you to direct the engineers from your water resources department to take immediate and elaborate remedial measure to ensure the dam’s safety and also provide regular supply of water for irrigation and drinking from the Tillari project so as to ensure the safety of people, property and cultivation downstream,” Sawant’s letter stated.