Sabarmati weir could meet water need for 15 days

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is all set to construct a weir near Indira bridge on the Sabarmati river. The weir, once completed, would be able to store up to 20,000 million litres per day (MLD) and cater to the city's water needs for 15 days, in case of a shortage.

"On daily basis, the AMC gets water from different sources. Many times, breaches happen in the canals and around 200 MLD of water supply stops for a few days. To avoid such situations, we are building a new weir on the Sabarmati River," said Pravin Patel, Standing Committee Chairman, AMC.

He added, "For the optimum usage of water, we are planning to construct the weir near the Indira bridge in Kotarpur. This water can be treated at the Kotarpur water works, so it would be cost effective as well. We have allotted Rs 10 crore for the same and the state government has given us permission for it."

Change in design of Riverfront Phase II

Pravin Patel said that the AMC is considering changes in the design of the second phase of Sabarmati Riverfront. The AMC had earlier announced an investment of Rs 850 crore for the same. "We are considering making changes to the second phase, to store more water. Sometimes, we release water into the Fatehwadi canal and at other places where there is flooding. This weir and the new design can save and store water in the future," said the standing committee chairman.

The state government had earlier announced that owing to the paucity of water, quotas for industrial and irrigation purposes would be slashed this summer.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday assured that to meet the challenges of water crisis 10,000-odd water lakes will be deepened. The works of deepening water lakes will be done under the people's participation scheme from May 1. He said that under the Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana (Sauni Yojana) all the 36 dams would be filled to their capacity.

WATER WOES

• State government had earlier announced that owing to the paucity of water, quotas for industrial and irrigation purposes would be slashed this summer.
   
• Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday assured that to meet the challenges of water crisis 10,000-odd water lakes will be deepened.