Vadodara: In a bid to strengthen the city’s water supply and prevent flooding in the Vishwamitri river that runs through the city, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has planned the deepening of Ajwa and Pratappura lakes. Following a similar exercise last year, the civic body aims to increase the storage capacity of both lakes to accommodate an additional 184 crore litres of water.

According to the VMC, the additional storage capacity will ensure a 12-day water supply for nearly 10 lakh residents in the city’s eastern and southern areas. The stored water is expected to benefit localities including Khodiyarnagar, Waghodia Road, Ajwa Road, Warsia, Dabhoi-Waghodia Ring Road, Soma Talav, Kapurai and Dhadharetiya.

Officials said the municipality has planned excavation of around 10.12 lakh cubic metres in Ajwa Lake and 8.36 lakh cubic metres in Pratappura Lake to increase water storage capacity. Agencies have been invited to undertake the lake-deepening work, similar to the exercise carried out last year.

According to the corporation, contractors selected for the work will have to bear all operational expenses and pay the government-prescribed royalty to the Mines and Minerals Department for soil excavation.

The civic body stated that the additional storage created this year would supply around 135 litres of water per person for 12 days to residents in the identified areas.

Last year, the municipality increased Ajwa Lake’s storage capacity by 48.8 crore litres through desilting work, while Pratappura Lake gained an additional 116.4 crore litres of storage capacity.

This year, the VMC estimates that the deepening work will add another 101.20 crore litres of storage capacity in Ajwa Lake and 83.6 crore litres in Pratappura Lake. With the cumulative work carried out over two years, the total additional water storage capacity in both lakes is expected to reach nearly 351 crore litres. DeshGujarat