Goa has appointed an inter-departmental committee to kick-start its water and sanitation reforms with the World Bank's technical assistance.

"The committee will look into improving and enhancing the state's water and sanitation facilities through various regulatory and operational reforms," said the World Bank's water and sanitation programme (South Asia) spokesperson Lisa Alvares.

The committee is headed by state Chief Secretary D.S. Negi and includes senior officials from various departments like public works, finance, power, water resources and panchayati raj.

Said Public Works Department Secretary Debashree Mukherjee: "The reform process has already been initiated. A sectoral assessment study had indicated some areas that could be improved and the work has started. Various departments are coming together to make this a success."

The committee would define strategy and supervise implementation of the overall reforms programme.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has argued for the need to improve water and sanitation facilities in the state as it is an important tourist destination.

"An upgrade in public utilities was needed to provide further infrastructure support to the growing tourists," he said.

He said that bringing public utilities at par with international standards would benefit the local population as well.

Despite receiving 300 inches of rainfall annually, Goa has been facing a water shortage.

Plans to replace traditional decentralised water-harvesting measures have failed to work in the state. Modern dams have also been unable to keep up with the growing water demand.

Scientific studies show that the impact of mass tourism is strongly being felt on the shores of north Goa.

A report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) said north Goa was being squeezed of its water resources, choked by sewage and swamped by population pressures.

Private sector involvement in water services has been an ongoing debate.

Critics of water privatisation see the World Bank as overriding democratic processes.