Amid an evident water crisis in the capital city, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday took stock of two big water reservoirs that have shrunk half of their actual size much before the peak of summer season. Das instructed officials present with them to dig both the dams deeper and clear obstructions of their sources in the catchment areas.
The CM asked the officials to start the work of deepening the dams as early as possible as there is two months’ time for arrival of monsoon and the process would take more time due to tender and other works. He instructed the officials to make use of JCB machines for the deepening work and said that he would again inspect the dams on April 30 and review the work.
Das asked Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Secretary AP Singh, Ranchi Town Commissioner Prashant Kumar and concerned officials to make plans for next 30 years keeping in mind the increasing population and needs of people.
He said that all water reservoirs must be deepened and it should be ensured that he water doesn’t spill over the reservoirs and get wasted. “We need to ensure that in the year 2017 people do not have to face water crisis. So, we have to make proper planning and work accordingly,” he added.
The city of Ranchi is going through acute water crisis as the weather is abnormally hot in the beginning of April itself. The maximum average temperature in the second week of April in the city has remained 39 degree Celsius.
Adding to the woes, the three big water reservoirs – Kanke Dam, Hatia Dam and Rukka dam – are showing warning signals with their water level shrinking at a rapid pace.
A large part of the city is facing water scarcity as small ponds, wells and hand pumps have dried up and the PHED department has implemented water rationing in many parts of the city due to scant water in the Hatia dam.