Himmatnagar: Concerns are being raised across North Gujarat over reported move of Rajasthan government to build newer dams on upstream area of Dharoi dam. Ruling party MLA, former minister and former Speaker of Gujarat assembly Ramanlal Vora has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in this regard and call for approaching the central government on this issue.

Vora said, blocking the water supply to North Gujarat’s Dharoi dam is a political stunt of the Rajasthan government.

The Rajasthan government has floated tenders for construction of two dams which will block the flow of water in river Sabarmati and its tributary Sei and seriously affect inflow in Dharoi dam in Gujarat.

MLA Raman Vora said that as per the agreements inked in the year 1971 when Dharoi dam was constructed, Rajasthan government is not allowed to build any dam within 350 kms area around Dharoi dam, Vora added.

Vora claimed further that blocking of Dharoi inflow will cause damage to 5 districts of Gujarat, especially Mehsana and Sabakantha in terms of water availability and supply.

Vora has in his letter to Chief Minister stated that if proposed dam projects in Rajasthan have any share of central government fund or if any agreement under the Centre is found violated, the required procedure needs to be done.

Vora in his letter also suggested that eventually Dharoi dam can be filled using Narmada waters same way as various dams are linked and filled with Narmada waters under SAUNI scheme. He also suggested that the right bank of Dharoi is used to supply water to Mahesana, same way the left bank should be utilized to supply water to Sabarkantha district.

It’s worth noting that reservoirs (dams) are to be constructed on Sabarmati river and Sei river in Kotra tehsil of Udaipur. For this, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the second provision of Rs 2 thousand 554 crore. After construction of reservoirs on these rivers, supply of drinking water will be ensured in 750 villages of Pali and Sirohi districts.

According to the proposal, reservoirs will be built on the Sabarmati river and its tributary Sei river, which originates from the Aravalli ranges in Udaipur district. From here water will be released in Jawai Dam through pressurized pipeline, gravity pipeline and channel. After the completion of the reservoirs, the drinking water system of 9 towns Pali, Rohat, Jaitaran, Sumerpur, Bali, Desuri, Sojat, Raipur and 560 villages of Marwar Junction as well as Shivganj town and 178 villages of Sirohi district will be strengthened, as per the Rajasthan government.

In the budget of the year 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced the construction of reservoirs on Sei and Sabarmati river in Kotra tehsil of Udaipur to ensure drinking water supply in Pali and Sirohi districts.

DeshGujarat