Ukai dam to overflow in next few days

SURAT: There is possibility of Ukai dam overflowing for the first time in 15 years in the next few days, though twice it had stopped before brimming over at the maximum mark of 345 feet during this period. The water level at Ukai dam was touching 343.02 feet already and if rainfall persists in upper and middle basins of Tapi River as predicted, it will overflow in all probability shortly, experts said.
Ukai dam authorities have been releasing water at the rate of 20 lakh cusecs for the past 10 days to maintain the water level at 343 feet. Notably, water level in Ukai dam had crossed the maximum level of 345 feet in 2006 which helped store 7,414 million cubic metres (MCM) of water then.
RM Patel, superintending engineer, Ukai dam, said, “We have been constantly releasing water from the dam at the rate of 1.2 lakh cusecs to maintain the water level at 343-feet mark. This will keep us safe if there is sudden inflow of water from catchment areas. We can keep the dam full by October 1 at 345-feet mark according to the rule book.”