Authorities release water from Ukai Dam as catchment areas receive excessive rainfall

SURAT: As heavy rains continued to lash the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the upper catchment areas of the Ukai dam were also affected as a large amount of water reached the dam’s holding area. In order to maintain the water level of the dam, authorities discharged 1.59 lakh cusecs of water.

In the last two days, as the upper catchment areas of the Ukai dam, which lie in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, received heavy rainfall, a heavy inflow of water into the dam was witnessed. On Monday, August 31, the dam’s water level stood at 335.53 feet. To maintain the dam’s water level, officials discharged 1.91 lakh cusecs of water directly into the Tapi River on Monday morning. By evening, the discharge was reduced to 50,900 cusecs. IN order to release such a huge quantity of water, 11 floods gates of the dam were opened simultaneously. 

H R Mahakaal, Superintendent Engineer, Ukai Dam, said, “We are keeping a watch on the inflow of water into the dam from the upper catchment areas. To maintain the level, we are discharging water. The rainfall stopped in upper catchment areas of the dam in the afternoon, as a result of which we have decreased the outflow.”

According to the flood control department, Mangrol taluka in Surat district received the highest rainfall up to 6 inch in the last 24 hours. Chikhil taluka in Navsari district, Umarpada in Surat district, Kaprada and Khergam in Valsad district received 4 inch each, while 2 inch rainfall was witnessed in Navsari town and Gandevi taluka in the district. The Dangs and Tapi district received moderate rainfall.