While the work has already begun, the civic body has sought loaders from the Gujarat Land Development Corporation (GLDC). For the past eight to nine years, the VMC has been laying channels near the wells after the ones laid earlier were washed away due to heavy rains or flood, which has cost the civic body nearly Rs 60 lakh annually. If the channels are not laid in advance, the water supply could be affected.

According to Additional City Engineer B S Trapasia, the channels have to be laid to bring water near the french wells as silting, resulting after the monsoons, prevents water to penetrate up to radial pumps of the well. The channels lead to artificial ponds created near the wells from where the water is absorbed by the pumps.

Although silting is one of the reasons to lay the channel, highly placed sources said as the Raika and Dodka french wells are located at least 20 feet away from the water flow, it becomes difficult to bring water near the wells.

From the time they were laid in early 1990s, the Raika and Dodka french wells have been controversial and the ruling BJP had even suspended the then city engineer D R Gandhi in 1995 for his alleged involvement in irregularities.

Also an expert committee was nominated to inquire into alleged technical and financial irregularities, report for which is awaited.

According to sources, after the number of wells have increased in Mahisagar there was a need to artificially charge water. Currently there are 12 french wells in the river, including four of the VMC.

Trapasia did not specity the number of loaders, but said would be pressed into service after the waterlevel in the river decreases.