Gujarat CM orders release of water from dams to save crops

Gandhinagar, Aug 11: With no signs of monsoon rains in the state, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani decided to immediately release water from dams or reservoirs for irrigation purposes to save standing crops in the state.

 

 

 

The CM has instructed for the release of the water while reserving the water stock for drinking purpose in dams or reservoirs for the period up to September, a press release said. He has taken the "sensitive" decision in the interest of farmers to save their standing crops owing to stretching dry spell in monsoon.

“While reserving the water stock for drinking purpose in dams/reservoirs for the period upto September 30, the CM has given instructions to water resources department to release remaining water with immediate effect to save standing crop of farmers,” it said. As per the release, five lakh hectare land of the state government will be benefitted by this decision.

 

 

Out of the 141 dams of Suarashtra, the water for irrigation purpose will be given from 88 dams catering to 60,000 hectare land. In North Gujarat, water will be given from Dharoi dam covering 15,000 hectare land. In Central Gujarat, Mahi river’s command area will be provided 6,000 cusec water from Kadana reservoir.

 

Apart from that, water will be provided to irrigate 2.10 lakh hectare land from 11 reservoirs including Panam. In South Gujarat, 1.10 lakh hectare land will get water for irrigation from six reservoirs of the region. Owing to the stretched dry spell in the state during peak monsoon season, a number of farmers are worried even as dams and groundwater resources have not been replenished to irrigate their crops.

 

 

The storage capacity of dams in Gujarat is also less than the corresponding figure of last year. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel too has earlier this month expressed concern over the lull in rain during the monsoon season and less water level in Sardar Sarovar or Narmada dam which is the main source of water for Gujarat.

 

In July, the CM had decided to provide electricity to agriculturists for two additional hours while making it available to them for 10 hours instead of eight hours.