Bharuch floods: Khedut EKta Munch accuses state govt for 'man-made disaster'
The Brackish Water Research Centre said that, against the predicted inflow of 11 lakh cusecs, the dam received 22.58 cusecs the inflow of water
Updated: Sep 27th, 2023
Updated on Sept 27, 13.41 p.m.
The Khedut Ekta Manch issued an ultimatum to the state government to carry out an investigation in 15 days regarding the overflowing of the Narmada on prime minister Narendra Modi’s birthday (Sept 17), where CM Bhupendra Patel performed rituals at the dam.
Writing a letter to CM Bhupendra Patel, the Khedut Ekta Manch accused that the authorities were instructed not to open the gates of the dam until the arrival of CM.
It further questioned whether they would be paid any compensation for their washed-out lands in a flood-like situation. They also said to knock on the doors of the Gujarat high court if the government will not take the necessary actions.
Parts of south Gujarat’s Bharuch faced a flood-like situation amid heavy rains and Sardar Sarovar Dam’s gate opening. Many areas of Bharuch-Ankleshwar are water-logged in a flood-like situation, with the opposition dubbing it as a ‘man-made disaster’.
Organisation’s questions
Surat’s Brackish Water Research Centre, which has been operational in the state since 2003, criticised the authorities and the government for ignoring warnings from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
CWC had informed the authorities about rising water levels due to the heavy rains on Sept 15. Madhya Pradesh’s Indira Sagar dam and Omkareshwar dam saw rising water levels. Even Bargi dam reached its highest level, though the authorities of Narmada dam didn’t flinch.
The Brackish Water Research Centre said that, against the predicted inflow of 11 lakh cusecs, the dam received more than double the inflow of water. The excess of 11.58 lakh cusecs of water disrupted the water management.
The organisation claimed that had the authorities released the dam’s water on Sept 14 and 15, the flood-like situation could have been avoided.
The authorities flouted the Met department and CWC predictions, which led to a flood-like situation in the villages and towns nestled along the banks of Narmada.
Moreover, questions were raised about the orders for releasing 18.76 lakh cusecs of water on Sept 17, and why was there a wait till the water reached 138.68 m in the dam?
Sardar Sarovar Dam consists of 30 gates with the limit of releasing 30 lakh cusecs of water at a time. 19 lakh cusecs of water were released from the 23 gates of the dam. Due to the inflow of Indira Sagar dam’s water and the downpour, it totalled up to 21 lakh cusecs of water.
Questions raised to the government and Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd:
Why was the dam’s website not updated after Sept 6?
Was the information about the rainfall in Madhya Pradesh not received?
It takes 8-12 hours for water from Madhya Pradesh to reach Narmada Dam; why did the government not take any precautionary measures during that time?
If there was no sign of rainfall in north Gujarat and the Saurashtra region, then why was flow of water restricted in the canals?
When will the government compensate the farmers who suffered huge losses due to the flood?
Why were the guidelines of the Central Water Commission ignored?
What was the reason behind the release of 18.76 cusecs of water?
Dam’s water saved for PM’s birthday?
The opposition reportedly accused the state BJP government of refusing to release the dam’s waters when farmers needed them but instead stored them so that the reservoir overflowed on prime minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, where CM Bhupendra Patel performed rituals at the dam, on Sept 17.
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