Feb. 21: Dispur is looking beyond the Brahmaputra for an alternative source of water supply to resolve the crisis of potable water in the city.

A source said in order to tide over the crisis of drinking water supply, the government is looking at two resources on the outskirts of the city which can be harnessed economically and more advantageously.

The main water source is the Brahmaputra and virtually all users — public and private enterprises — utilise the river.

The city development plan states that it needs to be recognised that sporadic and uncontrolled exploitation of water will be harmful in the long run and hence, there is a need for regulation of intake.

The government is looking at Digaru and Kulsi rivers, which flow on the boundaries of the city to resolve the crisis.

Digaru river is being explored for hydroelectric power generation at its upper reaches. It is capable of maintaining a minimum discharge of 15 cubic metre per second throughout the year.

A gravity dam can be constructed at Sonapur, which is about 20 km south east of the city. A reservoir spread over 20 square km of the river valley appears to be capable of supplying water to the city.

Similarly, another source of water is river Kulsi at Ukium, located along the inter-state boundary of Assam and Meghalaya.

Kulsi river receives about 45 cubic metre of water from the hills of Meghalaya and forms a river confluence at a distance of 50 km from the city.

A source said the Brahmaputra Board has prepared a detailed report on the Kulsi multipurpose dam project. The project envisages construction of a 60-metre high composite dam at 1.3 km upstream of Ukium village on the Assam-Meghalaya border.

“A viable water supply scheme based on the project can be prepared to fulfil the need for potable water of the city,” said D.K. Barman, a geologist working with the directorate of geology and mining. He said the project would boost tourism, water sport and pisciculture.

A source said both these sources of water need the support of the Meghalaya government as they are close to its border.

Only around 30 per cent of people have direct access to piped water supply in the city.

The city development plan states that the water supply system utilities are locked in a vicious spiral of weak performance and inadequate funding for maintenance leading to deterioration of assets.