With a view to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer season across the State, the Vijay Rupani Government has decided not to give irrigation water to farmers from Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Talking to media persons Gujarat’s Minister of State for irrigation and water resources Parbat Patel on Friday said that water storage at Sardar Sarovar dam was around 50 per cent of its capacity and hence the State Government had decided to plan drinking water supply for the next three months till the arrival of monsoon.
“South Gujarat has less water, while that in Saurashtra and North Gujarat is sufficient for drinking water purposes. We had already informed the farmers much in advance not to take summer crop and they have done so,” claimed the Minister.
In fact in the beginning of year 2018, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam limited (SSNNl) which manages Sardar Sarovar Dam informed farmers regarding discontinuation of irrigation after March 15, 2018. SSNNl authorities had also advised farmers not to sow summer crops dependent solely on Narmada Dam based irrigation.
Narmada waters via Sardar Sarovar Dam reach over 12000 of 18000 villages and over 135 towns in the State. The current water level in the dam stood at about 105 meters, lower than the critical level of 110 meters. The water level was at 124.4 meters on December 1, 2017. The water in the reservoir that was spread across 214 km during monsoon season currently has shrunk to less than 90 km area.
After stopping water for irrigation, the outflow of water that was around 9000 cusecs till Thursday, was on Friday brought down to around 4900 cusecs, with 4300 cusecs for drinking purposes and 600 cusecs for downstream in the river towards its tail in Bharuch.
In order to curb theft of water from Narmada canals, vigilance along the entire network of canal have been enhanced. Achal Tyagi, Assistant Superintendent of Police at Kevadia Colony where the Sardar Sarovar Dam is situated said that adequate security arrangement was done to prevent illegal lifting of water from Narmada canal.