Goa, Sept. 21 -- Goa has sufficient water reserves to meet its drinking water requirements through the coming summer despite a shortfall in seasonal rainfall, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar has said.

Shirodkar said the state could have a drinking water surplus lasting up to three months by May, citing the available reservoir capacity and contingency reserves maintained by the Water Resources Department.

According to the minister, Goa's existing water storage infrastructure is capable of maintaining water security even if the state receives around 80 inches of rainfall, compared to the approximately 110 inches traditionally expected.

He also said the department is currently drawing around 40 to 50 million litres of raw water...