The frequent rains at periodic intervals through summer has averted a water crisis in the district as all water bodies including Maithon, Topchanchi and Damodar supplying water to around 20 lakh residents of Jharia, Dhanbad and Katras are flowing at a comfortable level.

More than 2 lakh residents of Topchanchi have received uninterrupted water supply after a gap of more than a decade as the Topchanchi lake is flowing at 64 feet, much above the danger level of 35 feet.

Around 24 lakh gallons of water is supplied through Topchanchi lake to different localities of Katras town including, Katras Bazar, Rani Bazar, Sijua, Malkera, Tilatand, Rajendra Nagar, Keshalpur, Shalanpur etc.

Due to the water level dipping to less than 35 feet almost every year during summer propels the civic body Mineral Area Development Authority to ration the supply to once a week during summer.

Similarly, Maithon lake that supplies water to more than five lakh residents of Dhanbad under the Dhanbad Water Supply Scheme is also flowing at 461 feet much above the danger level of around 445 feet.

The water level of Damodar near the Jamadoba based water treatment plant from where water is supplied to more than five lakh residents of Jharia town is also flowing at a comfortable level of around 450 feet, above the danger level of 410 feet.

“Though the frequent rains may not have helped much in recharging the water bodies but it has helped to maintain the level to some extent by preventing the loss due to evaporation which is common feature in the complete dry summer,” said Indresh Shukla, executive engineer cum technical member of Mineral Area Development Authority to The Telegraph Online.

“We are comfortable at both Topchanchi and Damodar and thus water supply is also being carried out on daily basis,” said Shukla and added the desiltation work carried out in Topchanchi lake two years ago has also led to increase in its catchment and resultant storage of large volume water, thereby enabling regular water supply to Katras.

Aurba Saha, Public Relation Officer of DVC at Maithon, said ,“Though the water level is slightly below the comfortable level of around 480 feet at Maithon, it is still much much better than the danger level of around 465 feet.”

“With monsoon round the corner we are expecting the situation to improve during the next month,” said Saha.