City to get water from Digha dam for three months TANKERS CANNOT USE WELL WATER

Navi Mumbai that is facing acute water shortage will finally be able to source water f rom a dam that has been under the jurisdiction of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation ( NMMC).

The British- era dam of the Indian railways in Iltanpada area that falls under NMMC j urisdiction has a capacity of 8 mld water. The water has remained unused for years despite several representations to the railways.

Thane MP Rajan Vichare has managed to get permission for the use of water in the dam from the railway minister.

Digha area is presently fac- ing acute water shortage.

NMMC opposition leader Vijay Chougule had raised the issue with Vichare explaining to him the water situation in the region.

Speaking during his inspection visit to the dam on Friday with Chougule and Shiv Sena corporators, Vichare said, “I held a meeting on the issue with railway minister Suresh Prabhu on March 28. Before that, I had been in touch with the railway officials and sent several letters asking for the t ransfer of t he dam to t he NMMC.”

Vichare said: “Following the meeting with the minister, the railway officials have finally given a positive response and soon steps will be taken to transfer the dam. The transfer of the dam will take time, but right now permission has been given to use the dam water for three months.”

He said, “Central railway secretary Vinit Kumar has given me a letter, stating that water will be supplied for three months, based on an agreement with NMMC. I have received copy of the letter which has been sent to NMMC.”

Chougule said, “The dam, spread over 15 acres, has a capacity to supply 8 mld of water. I t could be used by residents of 8 to 10 wards in Digha and will bring a huge respite.”

NMMC officials said they had not received any official information about the decision.

The dam, spread over 15 acres, can supply water to around 10 wards in Digha.

To ensure controlled use of water in the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Cor poration ( NMMC), t wo days ago, banned the use of water from the wells in the city.

There are around 130 wells in the city, water from several of which is used for construction purposes. The civic body has allowed the use of pond water for construction purposes. Tankers source water from wells for construction sites. So far, no permission was taken from the civic body by tanker owners. Now, with the water crisis worsening, NMMC has stepped in to control the use of the water from wells.

NMMC has put up boards at wells announcing that drawing water by the tankers is banned. It has given permission to water tankers to source water from ponds for supply to construction sites. A civic official said, “NMMC has undertaken the work of cleaning the ponds. This requires the water levels of the pond to be low to help clear the silt below.”

“If the tankers source water from the ponds, it ensure that the pond water is not wasted,” he added.

BACHCHAN KUMAR