Surendranagar: The accused of water theft from Narmada pipeline in Muli taluka allegedly gave death threats to the team who came to check at his farm regarding the water theft. A complaint has been filed over this with local police.

Gujarat Water Infrastructure limited manages the work of supplying drinking water based on the Narmada canal. The water is supplied to 1219 villages and 21 cities in Saurashtra from Dhanki in Lakhtar through the pipeline. The agency looking after the pipeline had conducted checking at Khatdi village in Muli. The team found during the checking that the water was used for irrigation in Gopinath farm of Dharmendrabhai Tribhovanbhai Patel after supplying it through illegal connection with the pipeline from the land owned by Dharmendrasinh Rugdevsinh Rana.

Gajendrasinh Rugdevsinh Rana allegedly spoke abusive words to the team and gave death threats. Dharti Engineers general manager (civil) Komalben Ambalalbhai Adalja filed a complaint at Muli police station against Dharmendrasinh Rugdevsinh Rana, Dharmendrabhai Tribhovanbhai Patel, Gajendrasinh Rugdevsinh Rana and Jeshabhai Mavjibhai Katudiya. The complaint is filed for damage to public property, interruption of duty, and giving death threats.

It was found that the water was stored in a sump of 50 lakh liter capacity in the farm and a farm pond beside the sump and it was used for irrigation. Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited sent the water in the sump and farm pond at Gopinath farm for testing at Surendranagar district water testing lab. The water was of Narmada NC 33 as per the report of the test.

A complaint of water theft was previously filed against Dharmendrasinh Rana on 2nd May. The water theft was done by installing a 63 mm valve beside the valve chamber of the government pipeline, as per the complaint. DeshGujarat