In a shocking report that emerged from National Institute of Hydrology, Roorke, Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh has had the same amount of water level for past three months. Inspite of efforts by the UT Administration on the matter, the water level at the lake continues to stay at the same mark. The present water level at the lake is below the requisite water level that the lake demands.
Receding Lake Waters – The Entire Story
On inspection this January, the level of water at the lake was found to be 1154 feet, 9 feet below the requisite amount of 1163 feet by the administration. Seeing this unfortunate scenario of receding waters from Sukhna, Punjab and Haryana high court demanded from UT Administration to look for a solution to the problem.
UT Chief engineer Mukesh Anand proposed to pump in the water from seven nearby tubewells into the lake to replenish the water. An increase in water level to the requisite amount was fixed to be done in this quarter using these seven tubewells during these 3 months of winters. The assurance given by Anand in the month of January was then proven wrong by the stubborn water level at the lake which was found to be at the same level on March 20 on being inspected.
Reasons cited for Downfall of Water level
- Scanty Rainfall over a long period
- Mass evaporation
- Rise in temperature due to summer onset
- Decreased water holding capacity of the lake
- Huge amounts of sand deposits at the bed of the lake
Facts about Water Pumped into Sukhna
- Number of tubewells employed = 7.
- Amount of water pumped in = 2 MGD (1 crore litres)
- Estimated time of replenishment – 3 months
- Estimated Cost incurred – 12 lacs
- Present water level – 1154 feet
- Required water level – 1163 feet
- Water Deficit by – 9 feet
Going by the data the discharge from the seven tubewells employed to pump in the water could have been supplied to 14000 residential houses for domestic purposes catering to around 70,000 city residents. The shocking statistics not only resulted in reduced supply to main sectors of Sector 19, 20, 26 and 30 by 2 MGD per day but also went down the drain for not being able to serve the purpose for which it was directed to.
What can one say when the facts and figures released by the officials themselves leave you numb. All we can do is hope and pray that Rain God showers his mercy on our very own Sukhna which defines the sole existence of City Beautiful- Chandigarh.
Image Source = Hindustan Times
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