Vadodara:

After seeing an increase of 32 cm in its water level in last five days, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada reservoir in Kevadia of Narmada district was again seeing a fall in it, though quite slowly.

The water level which had started rising on March 18 owing to increase in flow of water from Madhya Pradesh, was going down slowly since yesterday.
Chief Engineer (Dam and Vadodara region) of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), P C Vyas today said that in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am today the water level has seen a decline of 3 cm. (105.74 m to 105.71m). The inflow rate today was 2549 cubic feet per second (cusec) while the outflow rate (through IBPT) was 3426 cusec.

The water level of the largest artificial water body in Gujarat, known as the life-center of water-supply in the state, had seen the first rise since last monsoon when it started going up owing to increased flow in river Narmada from MP side on March 18 when it had dropped down up to 105.42 m.

The supply of water from reservoir for irrigation of Rabi crops was as per pre- announced schedule was completely stopped on March 16. The reservoir supplies water for drinking purposes in Gujarat to over 10000 villages and 150 towns. The two hydel units of SSNNL associated with the reservoir were shut since February 20 this year after the sliding of the water level below 110.64 meter which was the minimum required for running them.

DeshGujarat