Water problems in CM’s constituency

Rajkot: Water has once again became an election issue in Rajkot and that too in chief minister Vijay Rupani's constituency with hundreds of households facing shortage despite good rainfall. More than 800 complaints have been filed by people of ward numbers 1, 8, 9 and 10 of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) which falls under the Rajkot West assembly seat.

This year, the demand of water has increased due to prolonged summer and hot weather. The last general board meeting of the RMC held a day before Diwali (October 18) turned stormy after this issue was raised by the opposition Congress.

Aji (1) dam is the main drinking water source for Rajkot's population of 15 lakh. RMC supplies 230 MLD (million litre per day) which includes 150 MLD from Narmada supply and 45 MLD from Bhadar dam around 35 from Nyari (1).

According to the data presented in the RMC meeting over 800 complaints regarding water shortage were filed in the last two months. Most people have complained that because of low water pressure they were getting less than 50% water supply needed for daily chores.

The societies of ward numbers 1, 8, 9 and 10 of the RMC, which are facing the problem, fall in the assembly constituency of the chief minister — Rajkot (west). These wards include areas like Nava Mava, Kalavad Road, Ring Road, Raiya Dhar, Airport road, Amin Mart, University Road and Raiya Road.

According to the data given by RMC additional city engineer in general board meeting, the civic body has received 824 complaints of low pressure water supply in the last two months of which more than 400 were from west zone.

"I am receiving complaints every day and people are complaining that they are getting just three to four buckets of water in 20 minutes to 25 minutes when the water is supplied by RMC," said Mansukh Kalaria, ward number 10 councillor, who had raised this issue at the RMC general board meeting.

Every summer, Rajkot faces water scarcity and to solve this problem state government brought Narmada water to Aji Dam under the SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) Yojna. "Water quantum is not a problem but the distribution system is faulty. There are leakages and illegal connections that cause the problem," said Kalaria.

Labhuben Bhoot, a resident of Panchayat Nagar, said, "I have lodged a complaint with RMC and councillors of my area. After my complaint, I got the water with regular force but the problems resurfaced after a week." A resident of Vrundavan Road said, "We get just 50% water of what we should get from the corporation due to low pressure water supply. We have to buy tanker water to fulfil rest of our needs."

However, RMC commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani termed the problem as not so grave. "Before Diwali there was more water requirement. So demand for water rose, but right now there is no such issue and summer is also over. So, the water demand will come down. Our system is ready to deal with any complaints."