Times of India 27.07.2009

Rs 38-cr project mooted to draw waters from Narmada

VADODARA: To meet the water requirement in western part of the city, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation has mooted a Rs 38-crore project to draw water from Narmada canal, sources in the civic body said. The project, which is awaiting a go-ahead from the state government, will entail the construction of an intake well at a private land near Sherki village on the outskirts of the city.

According to civic body officials, following an approval from the government, VMC will invoke the urgency clause no. 17 of Land Acquisition Act ( whereby government gets special powers in case of urgency and directs the collector to take possession of any land needed for public purpose) and take possession of 9,500 square metre of land near Sherki.

Explaining the project, the official went on, "An intake well at the cost of Rs 3 crore will be built on this private land. The water drawn from the canal will be pumped to the intake well, which will be constructed in its vicinity. The pumping station will also be built next to the land." The water will be transported to a water treatment plant (which will also be newly constructed) and the treated water will be distributed to the western parts via pipelines.

"The plan is to draw 1.5 crore gallon (75 million cubic litre per day) of water from the Narmada canal," the official said, adding that the tendering process for the project has already begun from the month of June. Once the plan is put into action, authorities of Narmada canal will be handed over a design for the base.

At present, the water distributed to the western parts are drawn from seven water tanks including
Sama, Gorva and Harinagar areas. The water at these tanks is collected from wells of Poicha and Rayka-Dokda. To this, the addition of the water of Narmada will fulfil the requirement. The rest of the city is supplied water from Ajwa and river Mahi.