Nearly thirty years after Goa made the first payment towards Tillari project, engineers in Maharashtra say that it is little more than a year away from completion even as the cost has jumped to Rs 1390 crore from the first estimate of Rs 45 crore in 1978-79. The joint venture of Maharashtra and Goa is scheduled to cater to the needs of irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply and power generation, officials told media persons who were on a tour to Konalkatta on Friday. The cost of the project is to be shared by Governments of Goa and Maharashtra in the ratio of 73.3%: 26.70 % respectively on the basis of water utilisation. Around Rs 360 crore is required for completion of the pending works. The project promises to quench the thirst of three talukas namely Pernem, Bardez and Bicholim when it will get ready by 2009-10. The project is across River Tillari, a west flowing river rising in Sahyadri Mountain at an altitude of 800 metres. This river is called Chapora River in Goa which breaks into the Arabian Sea at Vagator Beach. The Executive Engineer for Tillari Water Project, Mr S M Chouhan said while speaking to Herald, "The work of the dam is almost completed and we are trying to complete it in the due date that is by 2009-10'. He further said, around 45 MLD of water we supplying to the Government and we are still ready to give 115MLD as we have enough water stored at the dam'. He also added, "The life of the dam is stated to be around 100 years and Central Design Institution is looking after the finalization of engineering'. Area: In Goa, a total of 73 villages will benefit under the project. Namely: Pernem- 18 villages; Bardez- 39 villages and Bicholim-26 villages; and 33 villages in Maharashtra namely Dodamarg-16 and Sawantwadi-17. That means 4254 hectare in Pernem taluka and 10627 hectare in both Bardez and Bicholim talukas and around 2094 hectare would be benefited in Maharashtra. Power Project: According to the agreement that was signed by the water resources minister of both the States, the power that will be generated at the dam will be 10 MW and out of which it will be utilize for 7.3 MW for Goa and remaining 2.7 MW will be utilize for Maharashtra. The power that will be produced at the site that will cost Goa for Rs 2 for 1,000 cm/s that the State Government has to pay for the power-producing firm. The firm has the ownership according to BOT (Bill Operate Transfer). At present the firm named