Gujarat: Sabarmati River to run dry, Vasana barrage gates to be repaired

This summer as the mercury is expected to reach 45 degree Celsius, Sabarmati River will be dry too. As per the estimation of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation the repair work at Vasana barrage will be carried out for a month and a half, and the river will be filled again by June end this year.

The irrigation authority has decided to repair gates of Vasana Barrage from May 15. There are total of 30 gates of which four gates are scheduled to be repaired this year. "The four gates located at lower level needs to be

repaired. With the monsoon season approaching the irrigation department wants to complete the work by next month," said a senior official of Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited.

The Irrigation Department has mentioned in the letter that before the repairing starts, they will empty the river and release it in Fatehwadi canal. Fatehwadi is the major source for farmers as it provides irrigation water to many villages in Ahmedabad district.

According to the officials, fabrication work is undertaken. "Once the metal fabrication and welding work would finish, the irrigation team will start working at the site. From the second week of May, the team will start working for the pillar repairing and gates restoration. The work is expected to conclude in six weeks," added the official.

Last year it was decided that the civic body will fill the river by using treated water. The state government had directed the civic authority to fill the river by setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) near to the river bank. By the end of 2019, it is most likely that around 11.5 km long stretch of Sabarmati Riverfront will not get water from Narmada River. At present, the Irrigation Department daily releases around 200-300 cusecs of Narmada water from Vasana Barrage to Fatehwadi canal.