Underground water-level in five wells in the city has increased by five to seven m after the waters of Narmada began flowing in the Sabarmati through the Narmada main canal.

According to an official release here on Sunday, the French wells constructed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at Acher, camp Sabarmati railway bridge, Kotarpur and Bhadreshwar recorded the increase after nearly 12,154 acre feet of water was released by the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. and the state government’s irrigation department till date. According to details, the water level of wells in Acher, camp, Sabarmati railway bridge, Kotarpur and Bhadreshwar has risen by six, seven, two, four and five m respectively.

As a result of this recharging of the French wells, the AMC has been able to provide nearly one-and-a-half crore gallons of drinking water during Diwali in the city. Since last two years, the water level in these French wells was keeping low, thus rendering them useless. Consequently, the AMC, to meet the 12-crore gallon water requirement of the city, had to draw nearly six crore gallons water from the Raska weir and the remaining six from the 400 bore wells. Official sources said the recharging of these French wells has eased the problem of drinking water supply.

Also, without pumping water from the main canal, nearly 200 cusec water is being partly released in the Sabarmati in the Narmada main canal near Kadi and in the Sabarmati through the Sabarmati siphon. It is expected that after the increase in the height of the dam, the quantity of water released in the main canal can be increased by constructing two bypass tunnels. The underground water levels in areas nearby the city will also increase notably, the release added.