Alert sounded in 23 Bharuch villages

Bharuch/Surat: Even as many low-lying areas of Bharuch town remained water-logged since last three days, the district administration has sounded alert with the water level at Sardar Sarovar dam touched the historic 138m-mark on Saturday.

Currently, 6.15 lakh cusecs of water is being released from the dam which is likely to increase with heavy inflow from the catchment areas.

Many low lying areas in Bharuch town including Furja, Dandia bazaar are have been waterlogged since the last three days. The areas near Golden Bridge connecting Bharuch and Ankleshwar towns are also inundated.

The water level at the Golden bridge increased to 30.90 feet on Saturday, from 30.40 feet on Friday. About 30 villages in Bharuch and Narmada district are still waterlogged and that alert was sounded for 23 low lying villages of Bharuch district on Saturday.

Talking to TOI, Bharuch district collector, M D Modiya said, “We are in the alert mode as the water level at Sardar Sarovar dam has reached its historic mark. However, the situation is under control. Even if more water is released from the dam, we have nine hours to start the evacuation and shifting operation.”

Modiya added, “At present, the release of water from Narmada dam has been reduced from 8 lakh cusecs on Friday to 6 lakh cusecs. In the last three days, about 3,500 people have been shifted in the entire district.”

Farmers in Bharuch district are upset as the floods in Narmada river has destroyed standing crops in many villages. The villagers are opposing the programme organised by the state government to celebrate the historic water level at Narmada dam.

A farmer from Borbhatha village in Bharuch, Ravjibhai Thakor said, “Our farm have been waterlogged from the last five days due to the release of water from Narmada dam. Many villages have boycotted the celebration planned by the state government for the Narmada dam touching historic mark.”