Good showers this month have resulted in a surge in water stocks of three main dams which constitute the city’s potable water lifeline. Incessant rainfall has also contributed in recharging depleting ground water in Ranchi and neighbouring districts. Due to good rainfall this year, the water level at Getalsud ( Rukka), Gonda and Hatia dams have increased. Experts opine that as Ranchi and its neighbouring districts this month has witnessed good rainfall resulting in water from drains, trenches and rivers reaching these dams.
Officials at the drinking water and sanitation department opine that water levels in these dams are sufficient to meet water requirements for four to five months. Also, there is the whole August and September month and as per weather department predication these two months will have good rainfall.
KK Verma Joint secretary, drinking water and sanitation department said, “Water level in all three dams has gone up in the past one month due to good rainfall. The water level at Getalsud (Rukka) dam is 13 feet which is four feet more than previous year.” Verma claimed that the situation in other dams (Gonda and Hatia) is similar; the water level at Hatia Dam has reached to 10 feet while the water level at Gonda is 16 feet.
Kanke (also Gonda) dam was built in 1955, Hatia (also Dhurwa) dam in 1962-63 and Getalsud (also Rukka) dam in 1971 and since then these reservoirs are the mainstay of water supply to 32 lakh people in Ranchi.
Officials at the drinking water and sanitation department claimed that if there is good rainfall in coming months,then water levels will go up in these dams.
The water strength of Rukka dam is 30 feet, if there is good rainfall then water level will reach upto 25 feet which will be a record.
The good rainfall has also contributed in recharging ground water. As half of the population Ranchi depends on boring water, good rainfall will contribute in recharging ground water. Densely populated areas such Upper Bazar, Ratu Road, Garikhana, Hindpiri and other areas have deep boring which generally fails in summer season, however, this year there has been no such complaint.
Verma said, “This year we have not received any complaint of boring failure, which indicates that ground water has gone up.” According to the weather department, this year July has received the maximum rainfall in the last one decade. In the past one week there has been good rainfall. July 26 witnessed 121.2 mm rainfall which is July month's second highest rainfall in the past one decade. The previous record of best rainfall in July was of July 26, 2017 when there were 205. 8 mm of rainfall. Due to good rainfall, agriculture work has gained momentum with farmers completing the paddy sowing.
