Centre to Review Goa Rs 652 Crore Proposal for 24x7 Tap Water Supply
The central government has assured Goa that its demand for ₹652.61 crore to implement a 24×7 ‘Drink from Tap’ (DfT) water supply project will be considered, according to officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The assurance followed a high-level meeting in Panaji on Monday, chaired by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane. The session reviewed ongoing projects in the power and urban development sectors. Highlighting the state’s tourism-driven infrastructure needs, CM Sawant sought enhanced financial support for critical urban services, especially the DfT initiative aimed at ensuring round-the-clock access to potable water in households. The project proposal includes components such as water source augmentation, infrastructure development, network rehabilitation, smart metering, and SCADA-based monitoring.
Minister Khattar instructed MoHUA officials to consider suitable policy amendments for tourist-heavy states like Goa to receive higher allocations under centrally sponsored schemes such as AMRUT 2.0 and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0. He referenced Odisha’s Puri city, which became the first in India to offer 24×7 Drink from Tap in 2021, as a benchmark. Goa has also requested ₹326.30 crore for complementary urban water infrastructure development. During the meeting, the Union Minister urged Goa’s administration to fast-track pending work related to water and sewer connections under AMRUT, expedite tenders for public sanitation facilities under SBM, and complete solid waste and co-treatment infrastructure.
Further, Khattar asked the state to promote citizen participation in flagship schemes such as PMAY-Urban and PM SVANidhi, especially to expand access to affordable housing and financial inclusion for women and street vendors.
