Breach in Ganga canal will hit water supply for a week

New Delhi, May 17 2013 :--



As repair work to fix the breach in the upper Ganga canal in Uttar Pradesh continues, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Thursday warned that water supply in East, South and Southwest Delhi would remain affected for at least a week.



Given the increase in demand during summers, the DJB has requested the Centre to expedite the repair. The UP government has already assured that the breach will be mended as soon as possible.The DJB said the breach was discovered in the Ganga canal, near Khatoli, around 50 km upstream of Delhi.



\"We do not know the reason for the breach or the extent of damage. A DJB team has been sent to the area to conduct a survey and prepare a report as soon as possible,\" a senior DJB official said. He said the production of water at Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi water treatment plants was affected due to shortage of raw water.



Sources in the Delhi government said the DJB had online reserves to supply water to the affected areas for at least one week. \"We do have reserve water, but even then supply to certain areas will have to be rationed. We do not expect any acute shortage. Despite our reserves, the UP government has been asked to complete repairs within three days,\" a Delhi government official said.



He said as of Thursday, the shortfall in raw water supply was 20 million gallons per day.



Repairs to the main canal is expected to take several months, but sources in DJB said the UP Irrigation department, which is responsible for maintaining the canal system, was working to build a coffer dam to restore supply.



\"This will be a temporary arrangement, so that water supply to Delhi is not affected while repairs in the main dam are on,\" the official said.




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