Work on Sayaji Sarovar gates begins

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has begun work on maintenance of historical Sayaji Sarovar gates, better known as the Ajwa reservoir that supplies water to the city. The reservoir has 62 gates which need to be serviced every year ahead of the monsoon to ensure that their operation is smooth in case water has to be released from the reservoir. The reservoir has been constructed on the Surya rivulet and water discharged from it when the gates are opened flows into the Vishwamitri river.
According to officials, the moving parts of the gates are lubricated and their operation is checked thoroughly before the onset of monsoon. The work on the gates began recently and is expected to get over in about two weeks. Earlier this month, work to clear vegetation from the embankments was also taken up. The work was delayed this year as the reservoir’s level had not receded. An official said that whenever the level of the reservoir was at around 210.5ft above sea level, it was ideal to take up the work. The construction of the reservoir started in 1885 and was completed in 1890. Tapped water supply to the city from the reservoir was inaugurated by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III on March 29, 1892.