Ghaziabad, Noida face potential water-supply disruption

More than 20 lakh people in Ghaziabad and Noida who depend on Ganga water could face supply disruptions when the Upper Ganga Canal closes for annual desilting from October 21 to November 25.

The irrigation department has scheduled the maintenance work along a 195-km stretch of the canal between Haridwar and Dasna. The exercise is undertaken after the monsoon to remove accumulated silt that can restrict water flow.

In Ghaziabad, Ganga water supplies several localities in the trans-Hindon area, including Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Vasundhara, Siddharth Vihar and Pratap Vihar. Delta colonies, including Surya Nagar, also depend on the supply, reported The Times of India.

The scheduled closure is expected to put pressure on local authorities to maintain supplies through alternative sources while canal water is unavailable.

In Noida, the authority is preparing to increase the use of existing groundwater sources during the interruption. Officials have said tubewells will be operated at full capacity and additional repairs will be completed before the closure. Tankers may also be deployed in localities where supplies remain inadequate.

Greater Noida East could also experience disruption because of its dependence on Ganga water. The Greater Noida Authority has requested the irrigation department to consider carrying out the desilting after Diwali, citing concerns about the timing of the shutdown.

The irrigation department has also planned additional work near Chhota Haridwar in Muradnagar. The canal floor along the bathing ghat is to be raised by 50 cm as part of measures intended to reduce drowning incidents.

Residents in affected localities may experience pressure on the available supply while the maintenance work proceeds. Authorities will need to rely on alternative sources and local distribution arrangements to reduce the impact.