Round-the-clock guard at Anjani dam as Erandol cracks down on illegal water drawing

Erandol taluka faces the threat of a severe water shortage this time. Rain has been long delayed in the current kharif season, and the effect of El Nino is also being cited. In view of this, the administration has taken strict steps to protect the reserved water stock of the Anjani dam, so that people do not face a shortage of drinking water in the coming days.

A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted to completely stop unauthorised and illegal drawing of water. Round-the-clock guarding of the dam has begun. The official orders were issued on October 8 and are now actually being enforced. The action to stop wastage and theft of water is being carried out under the joint guidance of Sub-Divisional Officer Manishkumar Gaikwad, Tahsildar Gopal Patil and Girna irrigation department sub-divisional officer Kuldeep Patil.

Given the effect of El Nino and drought-like conditions, the use of the available water is being decided very sparingly. The Anjani dam currently holds 83.40 per cent of its capacity. The total water is 16.799 million cubic metres, of which the usable water is 13.027 million cubic metres. Besides the Anjani dam, special teams have also been deployed at the Bhalgaon lake and the Dahigaon barrage to stop illegal extraction. The taluka administration and the irrigation department are working with full force to save every drop of drinking water.

Several government departments have joined in this effort. The teams include officers and staff of the revenue department, local administration, technical staff of Mahavitaran, the irrigation department, the minor irrigation department and the police administration.

Two special flying squads of 11 officers and employees each have been formed to stop water theft from the Anjani dam. The squads are keeping watch day and night in two shifts.

The equipment and pumps of those who draw water unauthorisedly from the riverbed or main water channels by laying pipelines or using motors are being seized. As a safety measure, the main power supply at the dam has also been shut off.

Farmers or businesspeople found drawing water in violation of the rules are having their agricultural power connections cut immediately through Mahavitaran. The administration has given clear instructions to register criminal cases directly at the concerned police stations against those who do not stop water theft even after repeated warnings.