Gangajal supply halted for desilting, 20 lakh people hit in Noida and Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: The supply of Ganga water to Ghaziabad and Noida has been suspended till Oct 20 due to the annual desilting of the Upper Ganga Canal , affecting nearly 20 lakh residents who rely on it for drinking water.

The 185km canal carries water from Haridwar to Dasna, where it is treated at the Pratap Vihar plant before distribution. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has stepped up local water arrangements to meet daily needs. A GMC official said they will use the stored Ganga water, which will be mixed with groundwater and supplied until supply is resumed.

"Currently, we have water in our plants, which will last for only a day or two, after which the supply will be completely stopped. The water will be released in the UGC on Oct 20, and it will take another two days for the water to reach the plant," said UP Jal Nigam official Brahmanand.

The UGC was built by the British in the 1850s primarily for irrigation. Although its water is now also treated for drinking at the Pratap Vihar plant, irrigation remains its main purpose. Every year after the monsoon, the canal must be drained and desilted. This is necessary because the silt level, which is normally 300 particles per million (ppm), rises to over 5000 ppm, blocking the water flow.

The UP Jal Nigam operates three water treatment plants: two plants of 120 MLD each and one plant producing 240 MLD of water. From one 120 MLD plant, GMC's share is 60%, while 40% is allocated to Noida. In another 120 MLD plant, 80% of the water's share is for Noida and 20% for the UP Housing Board. In the 240 MLD plant, 75% is allocated to Noida, 30 MLD to the UP Housing Board, and 15% to the Board.

"The quality of groundwater in the region is unfit for potable use because of high salinity, and over the past few years, Ganga water has been seen as a far better option for potable use. But so far, it is supplied to only trans-Hindon areas of Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Vaishali, Kaushambi, and delta colonies like Brij Vihar and Siddharth Vihar. In Noida, also, the supply network has increased to many sectors," added Brahmanand.