Shanky T
Bokaro ( Jharkhand): Bokaro steel city residents fear water rationing in next few days after Tenughat—Bokaro water canal, which caters to the water need of Bokaro steel city and Bokaro steel plant, breached on late November 2 evening forcing administration to stop flow of water in the 34 km long canal from Tenughat dam. The canal breached suddenly at about 9.30 pm on November 2, just 100 feet away from Tenughat canal, 34 km away from Bokaro steel city. It damaged a part of bridge located on the spot forcing administration to stop movement of traffic on the bridge.
On November 3 early morning, Bokaro deputy commissioner R M Ray along with Bokaro SP Y S. Ramesh rushed to the spot directing water resources department officials to immediately repair the breach. It started on war footing but will take 36 hours to get repaired by November 4 evening. State water resources department hopes that water from Tenughat dam would be released to the canal overnight for supply to Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) due to speedy repairs underway under executive engineer A K Jha and Bokaro steel plant technicians.
It may be mentioned here that water supplied from Tenughat canal is collected at Bokaro Cooling pond from where it catered to Bokaro steel plant and different sectors of Bokaro steel city which can keep stock of 4 to 5 days of water..
In view of the Chhath festival, Bokaro deputy commissioner has asked Bokaro steel plant management to continue supply of water on regular basis and once the breach is plugged by November 4, water supply from canal can be made regular.
Manikant Dhan, BSL chief of communications, said speedy repair of the canal was going on war footing and asked residents to store water in big pots though BSL was trying its best not to go for water rationing. “Once water released in the canal reaches our cooling pond, we will be supplying water,” he said. The water supply will gradually improve from Friday evening, he said adding that it would take several days to bring the water level at the cooling pond to a satisfactory level. A Tenughat canal division assistant engineer said though water takes eight to nine hours to reach the cooling pond, it would take some 13-14 hours initially after repairs due to technical reasons.
The Bokaro DC said that everything was being done to repair the breached canal and supply water to Bokaro residents.