Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the ongoing mammoth water conservation campaign — ‘Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan’, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the campaign would be continued for the next three years to solve water scarcity problem of the State permanently.
“Just like current year, the State Government will start similar water conservation campaign ahead of monsoon for the next three years. We are aiming to bring up ground water table across the State. Water should be available at 20 feet in any part of Gujarat,” said the Chief Minister during a function at a village in Amreli district of arid Saurashtra region.
The State Government has initiated a month long water conservation campaign from May 1 — the foundation Day of Gujarat. During the period the BJP ruled Gujarat Government has set an ambitious target to deepen 13000 lakes and rejuvenate 32 rivers across the State apart from de-silting of canals and check dams. As per State Government’s claim more than 6000 JCB machines and 12000 tractors along with more than 1 lakh labourers are working to create additional water storage capacity of 11000 lakh cubic feet in the State. Total more than 10570 works related to water conservation are going on currently.
Meanwhile Rupani said that in lines with progressive countries like Israel as many as 10 desalination plants would be installed on the coastline of Gujarat. First desalination plant would be installed at coastal Jodiya village in Jamnagar district at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore, he added.
According to him already Gujarat Government was in process to connect as many as 115 dams with Narmada Dam’s canal and pipeline network and in case of inadequate rain these dams would be filled by Narmada water.
“We want to make Gujarat free from drinking water scarcity free even in the case of inadequate rain,” said Rupani adding that millions of cusec water in the urban areas of the State release in gutter which would be recycled and provided for industrial use as well as to urban authorities in order to maintain gardens and green belts. For the purpose the State Government would bring a separate policy, he added.
During summer, people in the most parts of Gujarat face water shortage problems every year irrespective of good or bad rain. According to experts main reason for drinking and irrigation water crisis in the State is absence of perennial rivers in the State.