SURAT: The Ukai dam authorities have started to release about one lakh cusecs of water from the dam into the downstream of Tapi following consistent inflow in the river's catchment areas in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh due to heavy rainfall in the neighbouring states. The release of water is expected to continue for a couple of days to avert the repeat of August 2006 floods in the city and to ensure that the dam has enough water to fullfill the irrigation, electricity and industry requirements.
After a gap of three years, the water level at Ukai dam has touched the rule level of 334.74 feet and the fresh outflow of water from the dam has left Tapi river flowing bank to bank. The phenomenon is likely to continue for a few more days, as the dam authorities have decided to maintain the release of one lakh cusecs water for a couple of days.
Ukai dam officials said the dam level will be brought below 333 feet from the current 333.97 feet. Against the inflow of 41,531 cusecs the dam is receiving from Hathnoor dam, about one lakh cusecs is being released keeping in mind the possible increase in the inflow due to the rains in the catchment areas.
It is a documented fact that in 2006, no decision was taken till the dam levels reached 345 feet. Then, nine to 10 lakh cusecs of water was released at a go.
Ironically, the situation on August 1, 2006 was exactly as it is on August 25, 2010. The dam was allowed to be filled till August 6, 2006 and water was released in huge quantity the next day leading to complete devastation in the diamond city. About 95 per cent of the city was under six to 20 feet of water for more than five days and 150 lives were lost.
"We have been taking precautionary measures well in advance to avert the repeat of the flood devastation of August 2006," said NP Chauhan, superintendent engineer of Ukai dam. "There are no reports of rains in the coming five days in Ukai's catchment regions. Despite this we want to keep the dam below the rule level to ensure there is no flood disaster in the city," he added,
Meanwhile, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), district administration and the irrigation department held a joint meeting on Friday evening after the Ukai dam authorities announced release of one lakh cusecs of water.
A high-ranking officer with SMC said, "We support the decision taken by the Ukai dam authorities to bring down the water level below the dam's rule level. This would mean that the water coming from t
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