Ranchi: A detailed report on the Rs 400-crore project to create a water link from Rukka Dam to the smart city in HEC area and later to adjoining Greater Ranchi is expected to be ready in six months.
Sashi Shekhar Singh, executive engineer of the drinking water and sanitation department's Hatia Dam's supply division, told The Telegraph groundwork such as field surveys had begun a few weeks back from the Rukka Dam end, which is over 20km from the Hatia water body, besides consultations with officials of the water, road and power departments.
Singh is one of the key officials working on the detailed project report.
Ranchi Smart City Corporation Ltd, a special purpose vehicle floated by the state government for the Centre-sponsored smart city project, has already submitted a requisition to Hatia division for supply from December stating that the civil work for convention centre and urban tower in the smart city had begun and was expected to be over by the end of this year.
"They (smart city) requested us for the supply of 18 million litres per day (MLD) from December and gradually they will start recharging 6MLD on their own, restricting the supply intake to 12MLD. We will start giving them 12MLD from Hatia Dam, but we can't continue supplying them for too long as it won't be able to take the load," he said.
The summer of 2015 coupled with poor monsoon had exposed Hatia's vulnerability, compelling the authorities to resort to water rationing until recently. Last year, good monsoon had revived the dam, but the stock won't be able to take the additional load for long.
"Hatia Dam can provide water to its command areas for 4-5 years. It may vary depending on the monsoons. Rukka Dam is comparatively large and our studies suggest that it won't face any crisis at least till 2050 even if the supply is increased in its command areas. Therefore, the government decided to create a link from Rukka Dam in the next two-three years so that by the time smart city comes up, it can have proper water supply," Singh said.
He said the drinking water and sanitation department was also exploring alternative water sources near the capital but with no luck so far.
