Desiltation over, Ganga jal back in taps from Monday

GHAZIABAD: The Ganga water supply, which was suspended for nearly a month, is expected to resume from Monday. The project manager of Pratap Vihar Ganga Jal treatment plant said the annual desiltation of Upper Ganga canal is over and water has been released in the canal, which is expected to reach the plant by Saturday midnight.

Neelam, project manager of the treatment plant, said: "We have received official communication from the irrigation department that desiltation work of the upper Ganga canal is over. On Thursday, water from Haridwar was released into the canal and this will reach Dasna by Saturday midnight."

She further said, "Once the water reaches the plant it will take time to fill up the reservoir and after checking the water for sludge we will begin treating it. Hopefully by Monday we will begin supplying water to Noida and Ghaziabad."

This has brought relief to residents who have been battling potable water crisis for the last one month. "It is good news that the water crisis will be over. However, I hope this will be the last year that we suffer due to the de-siltation and we urge the department and government that by next year they will be able to build reservoir in Dasna so that we do not have to face this problem next year," said U B Garg, a resident from Vasundhara.

Officials said there was a plan to build a reservoir near Dasna along the canal to store water, but it has not taken off in the last three years. "The cost of building the regulator gate on Ganga canal has been pegged to be around Rs 4 crore and we have paid Rs 2.75 crore to the department concerned. However, till we pay whole amount the work cannot be finished so we have written to Noida Authority for the remaining amount," said Neelam.