Saligao water treatment plant set for Dec launch

Calangute: The new water treatment plant (WTP) on the Saligao-Pilerne plateau is nearing completion and is expected to be operational by Dec.Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik and water resources department officials inspected the ongoing work opposite the Saligao seminary on Friday.

The work on the WTP began in 2021, along with the laying of new water pipelines from the WTP to Saligao and Calangute.“Only two joints remain to be connected near St. Alex church and St. Anthony’s chapel,” said Lobo. Once completed, the 30 million litres per day (MLD) WTP is expected to alleviate water shortages in Saligao, Pilerne, Nerul, Reis Magos, Candolim, and Calangute villages.The project will draw raw water from the Tillari irrigation canal, with a 30 MLD pumping station being built at Boa Viagem, Calangute and a 15 MLD water filtration system.

The plant aims to use surplus water from the Tillari canal because of reduced irrigation demand from Dodamarg to Calangute. The canal supplies 120 MLD to irrigate 700 hectares. The new pumping station will pump water to the plant 110m above Saligao hill and will be distributed in the coastal belt after filtration.Only the main pipelines in Saligao and Calangute have been completed so far, with the remaining network yet to begin. Repeated road digging in the past three years for laying out WTP pipelines and electricity cables from the new Saligao substation has caused major disruptions.