AMC to tap groudwater to tide over crisis

With the summers round the corner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to source 350 MLD (million titer per day) of groundwater to meet the demand.

The city needs around 1,280 MLD water, of which almost 800 MLD comes from Narmada. But with the river drying up, the civic body has decided to look at other resources to avoid paucity of water in the coming months. AMC has also decided to dig up 30 new bore wells to meet Ahmedabad water needs.

The city has been receiving 10% less water from the Narmada canal for the past 15 days. The civic body has prepared a list of non-functional bore wells, which are around 257. At present, there are 214 active bore wells that work for eight to ten hours a day. According to AMC officials, they could easily source 350 MLD of groundwater. He said the Sabarmati Riverfront project had led to a significant rise in groundwater levels, and water was now available at 330 to 350 feet, as opposed to 380 feet earlier.

While the national average is 140 LPCD (litres per capita per day), AMC provides 190 LPCD. The administration said they would use treated sewage water to keep the riverfront from drying up in summer months. The civic body is also planning mass awareness campaigns about saving water in the coming months. They will rope in popular artists and use social media to make the drives successful, officials said. AMC will also close down swimming polls during summer. They will also appeal to private clubs to follow suit, informed a source.

At the last AMC general board meeting, former Mayor Amit Shah had said that the city might witness riots for water.