IT’S a pensive wait for rain in Saurashtra, not just to get some respite from the blistering heat but also to put an end to the water woes in the region, which is getting worse by the day.
For over two weeks, Rajkot city has not been receiving daily water supply. In Jamnagar, water is supplied once in three days but the worst hit place is Amreli where taps run dry for 10-12 days. The reason: in all these places, local water resources have dried up, while the Narmada water supply through Saurashtra canal has been inadequate.
On Thursday, five wards in Rajkot under Nyari Zone-2,10,11, 13 and 14 remained dry as Narmada water supply was not adequate. On June 10, wards under Aji zone did not get water supply for the same reason. Its has been fortnight that water supply has been erratic at one or the other zones under Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
For the city, which required over 260 lakh gallons of water per day, two major source are - Bhadar and Narmada. Both are located outside Rajkot.
More than half of the requirement has been matched by these two sources and rest of the 50 per cent water has been drawn from local resources like Aji and Nyari. Recently, the supply has been affected with Narmada water supply not being adequate, following drop in water level in Saurashtra canal.
“The summer is at its peak, therefore, consumption of water has been increasing every day. At times when we require more quantum, there has been no supply at all,’’ complained Sudha Bhatt, a resident of Royal Park on University Road. The Bhatt family had no option but to purchase the water.
In Jamnagar, where Ranjitsagar dam has hit the rock bottom and water in Sasoi dam has reached to dead level, inadequate Narmada water supply has forced the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation to supply water once in three days, instead of alternate day. Only Und-2 dam has quantum of water that has been expected to last up to July.
The JMC is now planning to draw water from Aji-III dam. To maintain alternate day water supply, the JMC required around 150 lakh gallons. At present it has been facing deficit of around 40 lakh gallons per day. “The required quantum would be either drawn from Aji-III or Narmada to resume to alternate day supply,’’ said Jamnagar Mayor Manhar Zala.
Amreli, where Khodiyar dam is no longer available, the regular water supply - which is once in 8 days - depends on Mahi water and Varudi lake. With supply from Mahi becoming irregular, the city at present is receiving water once in 10 or 12 days.
While waiting for onset of monsoon, a special high level committee in Rajkot — including city Mayor, Commissioner and members — have been formed to monitor water supply in the city.
“Committee will centrally monitor status of water supply in the city by dividing into three zones. It will take fresh report on every third day to make sure that supply has not been affected in any zone,’’ said Rajkot Mayor Dhansukh Bhanderi, adding, “The committee has power to take immediate actions for the maintenance of regular supply.’’