KANPUR: To cope with the possible water crisis during four hot months, the Jal Kal department had been working on a plan of laying a 1.5 Km direct water pipeline with 1800 mm width at a cost of Rs 10.29 Crore from the Ganga Barrage water storage to Bhairav Ghat pumping station. This pipeline will be directly linked with the pumping station. It has been considered to maintain normal water supply to the city residents.
In a population of over 45 Lakh residents, the Ganges stands as the main source of water. There were other sources like Dadnagar canal, Lower Ganga Canal, and underground water which help in completing the requirement. Since the average underground water level was decreasing by 45 cm per year, there arises need to maintain sufficient water level in the river. Though there has not been indicated of the water quantity discharge from Uttarakhand, extra water will be stored in the storage area near Ganga Barrage. Even JP Singh, Executive Engineer, (Irrigation) said that no final decision was taken on the water quantity to be released from Uttarakhand. The water level in the river was four times better than the month of March in the last year.
City’s water supply comes from Bhairav Ghat Pumping station (200 MLD), Lower Ganga Canal (50 MLD), Old Barrage (60 MLD) and Old Gujaini Waterworks (12.5 MLD). There remains a requirement of 570 MLD water in city areas. During summer as many as 6000 cusec water could be released per second daily from Ganga Barrage. Out of 11889 hand pumps, as many as 3810 hand pumps were found to be defunct. A total of 50 tube wells were fulfilling the need of drinking water. As many as 160 MLD water was required in City South areas.
