Minister for Narmada and Major Irrigation Jay Narayan Vyas told newsmen here on Tuesday that releasing water from the Bhadar dam would save the standing cotton and other cash crops in the region, adding that the water was being released since Monday.

He said the decision to release the water was taken following a representation by BJP MLA Mahendra Mashru and the late minister Maganbhai Kasundra recently. At present, as much as 1,869 million cubic feet of water is available in the Bhadar dam reservoir, out of which 1,300 million cubic feet has been reserved for the drinking purpose for the people of Rajkot city and its surrounding areas and the Jetpur town.

Meanwhile, leaders in Rajkot allege that a water crisis is in the offing for Rajkot city with the government deciding to release a large quantity of water from Bhadar Dam -- one of the main water sources for the city -- for irrigation over the next two months.

Political leaders in Morbi, too, have protested against the government decision to release water from the Machhu-2 dam for irrigation. The dam is the source of drinking water for Morbi town and some 125 neighbouring villages.

Rajkot Mayor Govind Solanki said that the water being released is equal to three months of drinking water for Rajkot. Municipal commissioner Raj Gopal is learnt to have asked for details on the issue as city engineers predicted that the RMC may have to clamp water cuts by the beginning of summer.

There have been several representations to the state government from the farmers from neighbouring talukas of Rajkot to release water from the Bhadar to save the standing crops.

However, this decision of the government has put both the elected and administration wings of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation at loggerheads. According to top sources in the RMC, if 550 MCFT of water was released from the Bhadar, Rajkot city may face water cuts because this water is being saved as a buffer for summer ``this can become a serious problem for the RMC because going by the present stocks at the Bhadar, Nyari and Aji dams, we will be barely able to maintain regular water supply till next monsoon. If such a large chunk of water is released it will upset all our calculations,'' sources said.

At present, the Bhadar has a stock of about 1,823 mcft of water, of which 13 lakh gallons is supplied daily to RUDA areas, besides the city. ``Considering the seepage from pipelines and the illegal drawing of water with the help of diesel pumps by farmers, there will be little stock left till summer''.

On the other hand, the BJP elected wing is mum on the issue and is dillydalling on taking a stand since the BJP government has already given the orders to the chief engineer of the irrigation department.

According to deputy engineers of the RMC, this decision will also nip in the bud the RMC's pilot project to supply door to door domestic water connections in the newly merged areas in the next four months. ``What are we to do by giving connections if we cannot supply water?'' they ask.

When contacted Rajkot Mayor Govind Solanki said he was drafting a letter to be faxed to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel requesting him reconsider the decision. ``Earlier, Minister Nitin Patel had assured us that any decision taken on Bhadar will be in consultation with us but now they have surprised us by this announcement. Even the committee comprising me, the municipal commissioner and Bhadar engineers have not been taken into confidence before deciding on this,'' Solanki said.