Rukka Dam has sufficient water for the needs of the state capital in summer, drinking water and sanitation minister Mithilesh Thakur said on Tuesday after inspecting the 49-year-old dam on the Subarnarekha river, some 30km from here.

Thakur told the media that the quantity of water which is released from the dam in a day to cater the needs of the Sikidiri hydel power project is sufficient to fulfill the drinking water needs of Ranchi residents for one whole month.

“Thus there is nothing to be worried about water during summer,” Thakur said.

The minister said he would also talk to chief minister Hemant Soren, who holds the power portfolio, to reconsider releasing the quantity of water from the dam for the hydel power project.

“We have noted that the quantity of power that we receive is not commensurate with the quantity of water that we release for power production every day. I will also ask chief minister to reconsider (the quantity of water released) from dams for hydel power projects to ensure that water does not get wasted,” Thakur added.

The minister said he would also talk to the urban development department. “The state drinking water and sanitation department prepares dam and pipeline water supply plans but the onus of distribution lies on the urban development department and municipal bodies. Due to delays in getting water bill (revenue) from them, we have to suffer problems of water pipeline maintenance and can’t easily chalk out new plans. We will also give an ultimatum to the urban development department to ensure bill payments on time.”

He also expressed his dissatisfaction over maintenance of water pipelines and asked a tender be issued to select a new agency for the work.