Times of India: Ahmedabad:
Wednesday, August 07, 2013.
Where is half
the water released from the main Narmada canal disappearing? The Gujarat government
does not have any record to show where almost 50% of the water released went to
a query filed under Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Officials in
Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) blame farmers for theft but sources in
SSNNL say there could politician-bureaucrat-farmer nexus diverting waters for
industrial use.
In 2012-13, a
total 8,469.72 million cubic meter or (6.86 million acre feet) water was
released from the main canal - of which 3,302.29 mcm (2.69 MAF) was officially
given for agriculture while 1,624.25 mcm (1.31 MAF) was given to Gujarat Water
Infrastructure Ltd, Gujarat Water Supply and Sewage Board, Sujlam Suflam Canal,
water resources department, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and other cities
for drinking purpose. Some of it also went to industries.
But, SSNNL
does not have any account of where 3543.18 mcm (2.86 MAF) has gone. The
authority does not have any explanation on the where has the water been
diverted.
The volume of
missing water has grown 536.61 mcm (0.44 MAF) in 2008-09 to the present levels.
PA Totalani,
superintendent engineer (O&M), said, "Some loss is due to evaporation
and release of water for other purpose like Sabarmati riverfront. But, major
loss is due to theft of the water by farmers like at Maliya Miyana branch
canal. When we go to stop this practice we have to face pressure from various
sources." He said the monetary losses are yet to be worked out.
However, a
very senior officer in the SSNNL said, "Water theft from Narmada main
canal has reached alarming levels. Besides farmers, huge quantity may be going
to industries."
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