Major work on Middle Vaitarna dam over before deadline

The civic administration, contrary to expectations, has managed to construct a major part of the Middle Vaitarna dam before monsoon, which will help store rainwater and provide additional 455 million litres daily (mld) of water to the city.

The Middle Vaitarna Project, which was set to be completed by September 2012, is now expected to be completed in the next three months, thus enabling the BMC to store rainwater during this monsoon. While the major part of the dam was completed on May 6, 2012, the construction of the gate and other minor structures will be completed after monsoon.

"The major part of the dam was completed last week. With the main dam being constructed before deadline, we will be able to store additional water this monsoon itself. If monsoon is plentiful, the city might get additional water supply after monsoon," said Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner.

"The remaining work includes constructing the gates of the dam, levelling and cement work in some parts and it will be finished after the monsoon," said an official from the hydraulic engineering department.

The dam, estimated to cost about Rs 2,700 crore, was implemented as part of the Mumbai IV Water Supply Project. With its completion, the civic body will be able to meet the city's water requirement of around 3,900 mld.

Water from middle Vaitarna dam will be released into the lower lake, Modak Sagar, in a controlled manner. From there, it will be drawn for treatment and then supplied to the city.

The civic administration is also studying the prospects of generating hydropower from the Middle Vaitarna dam.

The Middle Vaitarna dam project was recommended by the Chitale Committee in 1993. But it got delayed as it was awaiting clearance from the Centre. The work on the construction of the dam finally started in 2007.

ALSO READ

It’s home sweat home for these Mhada lottery winners

LBT protest starts to hurt the kitchen

The Style Shrinks

In a first, BMC to survey children under 14