Gayaji dam, built at a cost of 324 Crores, starts to dry already

With the arrival of summer, the water level in Gayaji Dam on the Falgu River has dropped by nearly 80%, causing severe inconvenience to thousands of pilgrims. The ₹324 crore dam, built between Devghat and Sita Kund, was intended to provide a year-round water supply, but lack of maintenance has led to its rapid depletion. The remaining water is now polluted and unusable, further worsening the crisis.

After the rainy season, the dam had sufficient water until the Pitrupaksha fair, but as summer began, the levels began depleting at an alarming rate. Currently, around 10,000 pilgrims visit the site daily for pind daan (ritual offerings for ancestors). However, the water crisis has made it difficult for them to perform the sacred rituals. In the fairground area near Devghat, only one hand pump is available, forcing many pilgrims to dig small wells in the riverbed to find water.

Gajadhar Lal Katariyar, president of the Tirtha Vritti Sudharini Sabha, stated that while pilgrims visit the dam year-round, their numbers increase significantly during Pitrupaksha and Mini Pitrupaksha fairs. Many who stay in lodging areas get water assistance from temple priests, but those directly reaching the fairground struggle the most.

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, District Magistrate Dr. Tyagarajan S.M. held a meeting with officials on February 25, 2025, directing them to ensure clean and adequate water availability at Gayaji Dam. The meeting included discussions with the Vishnupad Temple Committee priests, social workers, district forest officials, the municipal commissioner, and the dam’s executive engineer. Despite this, no concrete action has been taken even after 25 days.

Officials were instructed to make four deep borings functional within two days, with additional borings if necessary. However, technical issues have delayed implementation, and the situation remains unchanged. Pilgrims and locals are frustrated with the lack of action, as the water crisis continues to affect religious activities in the region.

DM Dr. Tyagarajan S.M. assured that the authorities are reviewing the situation and motor pumps will soon be activated to restore the water level in Gayaji Dam. However, given the delay in implementation, concerns remain over how soon the crisis will be resolved.