Bhopal: This summer, Bhopalites will have to take to water rationing immediately as main sources of water, Upper Lake, could ensure supply for 35 days more days. If monsoon did not set in by June end, the city would have to undergo acute water crisis. The water-level at Upper Lake and Kolar dam is declining with each passing day.
Water level in the lake will go beneath danger limit if the municipal authorities continue to draw water for supply at the same pace. And for the first time, the authorities might even have to take the stern step of discontinuing water supply from lake, if rains get delayed.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is cutting down on water supply from Upper Lake from 30 MGD to 23 MGD. The people depending on lake will have to rely on other sources of water. Total 104 MGD water is supplied in the city including that from Narmada, Upper Lake and Kolar. Every day level of lake is doing down by .5 inches as the water is being pumped out for the supply. Currently water level in the lake is around 1654.35 feet and it can only be brought down to 1652 feet and not further.
If calculated, water from the lake could be supplied for next 35 days only as thereafter it will go beneath the maximum drawing limit. Rains though are expected to arrive by June end, however it gets delayed water supply from the lake will have to be discontinued. And if this happens, it will be the first time that supply of water from the Upper Lake will be halted.
Presently, the civic body has in all 56 tankers which are pressed into service to supply waters across the city during summer. The BMC has floated a tender for hiring additional water tankers and has earmarked been floated of Rs 94 lakh for the same.
With the depleting water level in city lakes, dependency on Narmada water, the only reliable source, will be increased. However, sources said that water flow in the Narmada river is also affected its tributaries between are also drying up. The tributaries including Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Anjan, Palakmati and Tawa are running dry between Bargi and Hsoshangabad area.
KG Vyas, a retired advisor to water shed of state government, said Narmada river is losing the flow as its six tributaries are running dry and in that case over reliance on it may cause hug loss to the civic body.
Harish Gupta, deputy commissioner BMC, when contacted said that the civic body has already reduced the quantity of water it draws from Upper Lake by 7 MGD. If required, we will further reduce the quantity looking into the availability of water in the lake.We will not allow to go beyond the set limit, he added.
