Water Security is National Security

Water resources and how they are managed impact almost all aspects of society and the economy, in particular health, food production and security, domestic water supply and sanitation, energy, industry, and the functioning of ecosystems. Under present climate variability, water stress is already high, particularly in many developing countries, and climate change adds even more urgency for action. Without improved water resources management, the progress towards poverty reduction targets, the Millennium Development Goals, and sustainable development in all its economic, social and environ- mental dimensions, will be jeopardized. UN Water.Org

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Water harvesting a respite to Verna wells

VERNA: The drying up of wells in Verna village due to the guzzling of water by the Verna industrial estate could soon be a thing of the past, if the ground water table project continues its success.


Six persons who had complained that wells in Verna were drying up due to tremendous water consumption by the industrial estate, expressed their satisfaction after a surprise inspection was conducted on Friday evening.

The Ground Water Table Recharge Project at the Verna industrial estate was initiated last year. The project converted 15 open spaces and currently boasts a total storage capacity of 2,52,82,870 litres of water. The project's expenditure has been 2,18,45,610 so far.

"The artificial ground water recharging structures have been constructed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and the Water Resources Department (WRD)," said Sanjit Rodrigues, project director and director of industries.

The structures are ground water recharging pits with dummy infiltration bore wells along with check dams, bunds and retaining walls. The ground has been perforated to recharge the water table, the project director said.

"This is a positive start. We hope their efforts to recharge the ground water table will help rejuvenate our springs and our wells won't dry up any more" said John Phillip Pereira of the NGO 'Voice of Village.' Pereira is a member of the committee set up to supervise the project headed by Rodrigues. The committee also has representatives from GIDC, WRD and Goa State Pollution Control Board ( GSPCB). More >>>

Location: Cayman Islands