The hot, dry weather is quickly dehydrating Jharkhand’s reservoirs, with all the three in Ranchi having dipped to half their capacity and water guardians worried about thirsty days ahead if it doesn’t rain – and rain well – before mid-June. The dams of Rukka, Kanke or Gonda and Hatia are the lifelines of the capital’s 29 lakh-odd population. Among the three, the water level of Hatia is said to be receding at the fastest rate while the two others are a tad better storage position compared to previous years. K.K. Verma, the executive engineer of Hatia Dam, conceded a 50 per cent plunge in water level already. “Against its total capacity of 20-22ft, the current water level is at 9.5ft. In April 2015 and the year before, the level was 8-9ft higher,” he said. This reservoir supplies water to around 3 lakh people in Hatia, HEC Township, Dhurwa, Chutia, Doranda, Hinoo and Airport Road, among others. Supply has been rationed to only thrice a week at the moment, Verma said and added, “We can provide water at this rate till June. Let’s hope the skies open up before that.” Besides city supply, the receding water level at Hatia Dam has also hit hard the state’s flagship cage culture. Initiated by the fisheries department a few years ago, the project specialises in breeding fish in a controlled environment before releasing them into other water bodies. The receding water level has compelled local fishermen to withdraw the cages. The Gonda Dam, which services 8 lakh people in Kanke, parts of Morabadi and Upper Bazar, besides Raj Bhavan, the CM’s residence and Rinpas, has left water guardians worried no less. “The water is at 8ft against a total capacity of 21ft. Though the dip is not more than 2-3ft compared to the past couple of years, we are in a tight spot because we shall have to stop supply once the water drops by another feet. My guess is we will last till June 15 unless it rains heavily in the interim period,” Gonda executive engineer Rajesh Kumar Singh voiced his concerns. The reservoir is grappling with another handicap, that of low voltage. A.K. Jha, mechanical engineer, said supply was a challenge the whole of last week owing to the erratic power situation. “The dam has 12 motors of various capacities. Three 60hp ones and two 75hp ones pump raw water. For clean water, we have four of 175hp and three of 120hp. On any given day, only half of the motors are used and the rest put on standby,” Jha said, adding that on Sunday, over-voltage had hit supply. Ranchi’s main reservoir is Rukka, which supplies to over 80 per cent of the population. Arun Kumar Singh, executive engineer, said the water level stood at 19.8ft against a storage capacity of 36ft. “Roughly, the drop in level is 3-4ft less than last April. The situation isn’t alarming, but there should be no room for complacency. The heat is harsh and there has been no rain,” he said. Singh maintained that they had 10 motors, each of 630hp. “Four are used to pump clean water while six lift raw water for filtration. The motors are never used together, but activated depending on the need. Last week, there were voltage issues, but now supply is normal,” he said. Coal town at ease Water levels in the Maithon and Panchet dams in Dhanbad, which together supply to a population of 15 lakh, have dipped while that of River Damodar is being artificially maintained, but civic guardians aren’t calling the situation as alarming as Ranchi. Public relations officer of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation M. Vijay Kumar said Maithon Lake read 452ft on Monday, 15ft less than April 2015, and the Panchet Lake level stood at 396ft, 12ft lower than last year. “Though the water levels have dropped, the situation is not worrying as yet. We have started rationing supply to various projects in Bengal,” he said. Damodar, which feeds the satellite towns of Jharia and Katras, is in a better position. “A small dam near Jamadoba is helping us maintain the level at 456ft, four feet more than last year. We can supply to Dhanbad too, if need be,” said Mada SDO (water supply) Shailendra Singh. Bokaro on alert Tenughat Dam, which supplies water to 8 lakh people in Bokaro steel city through a 34km canal, has pressed the panic button. Executive engineer A.K. Jha said the dam water was receding faster than last year. “In April 11, 2015, the level was 844ft; this year, it is 841ft; and it is still a couple of months before monsoon. The danger mark is 835ft. We cannot afford wastage,” he said, adding that routine inspections were being done to plug breaches in the long canal. Hazaribagh anxious Charwa Dam in Katkamsandi, 6km from town, meets water demands of 7 lakh people although it was built in 1952 for a population of only 30,000. Arjun Prasad, a reservoir maintenance employee, said the level had receded to 21ft against 27ft in April 2015 and 28ft in April 2014. “Every day, after filling the eight town towers twice, the water level goes down by half an inch. Coming days will be taxing. The danger mark is 15ft,” he added.
2016 The Telegraph.