Gujarat: 2,500 shifted from 21 villages as Narmada dam level rises

VADODARA/BHARUCH: At least, 2,500 people were relocated from several villages in Bharuch on Sunday as water levels Narmada River swelled after nine lakh cusecs was released from Sardar Sarovar Dam. Nearly 21 villages in Bharuch, Ankleshwar, and Jhagadia were inundated as waters entered gushed into these areas.
Floodwaters also entered low lying areas in Furja, Pirkanthi, Dholikui area of Bharuch town.
P C Vyas, director Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) told TOI, “The water level in th dam touched 132 m after inflow of 11.12 lakh cusecs. We released 9.54 lakh cusecs on Sunday evening.”
A total of nine turbines of river bed and canal head power houses have been made operational. They generate 1,350 megawatt electricity of 24 million units worth Rs five crore per day. The live storage in the dam reservoir is 3681 million cubic metres.
“Water level at Golden Bridge near Bharuch crossed the danger level of 24 foot on Sunday morning and reached 29.5 foot in the evening,” said Bharuch collector Dr MD Modiya.
Aruond 9,96 people from the low-lying areas of Narmada were shifted to camps in safer areas.