DeshGujarat

Ahmedabad, 18 July 2012

Cabinet meeting Chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the situation of poor monsoon. A 7-member high level ministerial committee headed by senior minister Vajubhai Vala was formed today in this regard. Members of the committee are Vajunbhai Patel, Narottambhai Patel, Anandiben Patel, Nitinbhai Patel, Dileepbhai Sanghani, Mangubhai Patel, Saurabhbhai Patel.This committee has been formed for district wise execution of policy decisions related to management of power, seeds, irrigation, agriculture, fodder, drinking water and irrigation water.

The cabinet took decision to immediately prepare a water management contingency plan. A committee of ten senior secretaries headed by Chief Secretary Shri AK Joti will review the execution of water management contingency plan and review it on day-to-day basis.

Meanwhile speaking to media persons, senior minister Nitin Patel said that due to lack of rainfall in neighboring Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, there’s no significant new income of water in Gujarat reservoirs. He said there’s only 1.75 lakh MCFT water storage left in over 200 dams in the state. While Kadana, Ukai and couple of more dams located in mainland of Gujarat have still sufficient water that can be supplied for irrigation, the other dams are not so reach at present, he said adding that existing water storage in Saurashtra dams has been reserved for drinking purpose.

The state government provides 90% grant for hand pumps, while 10% part is contributed by the local villagers, but in present condition wherever needed, the state government will give 100%. A decision in this regard was taken in the cabinet meeting today.

Official statement released by govt

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today directed preparation of an urgent Water Management Contingency Plan to meet situation arising out of truant, irregular and insufficient monsoon this season so far over different districts in the state.

Presiding over the Cabinet meeting to review the drinking water, irrigation, power, seeds and fodder situation, Mr. Modi announced the formation of a seven-member Cabinet committee headed by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala for smooth and effective implementation of the contingency plan.

Other members of the Cabinet committee are Rural Development Minister Narottam Patel, Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Nitin Patel, Agriculture Minister Dilip Sanghani, Forest Minister Mangubhai Patel and Minister of State for Energy Saurabh Patel.

The Chief Minister also set up a ten-member Secretary-level committee, headed by Chief Secretary A.K. Joti to take stock of the situation down to district, taluka and village level, on a daily basis, for planning and taking preventive measure to ensure smooth supply of essentials.

Mr. Modi reiterated his commitment to provide maximum possible quantity of drinking water to both rural and urban areas in this year’s difficult situation.

It was due to farsighted water management policies and steps undertaken by the state government during the last ten years, like putting in place Narmada canal and thousands of kilometres of pipelines network, that no acute water scarcity was felt in the state. Monsoon was also near normal all these years. However, the situation in several parts of Suarashtra and other regions, notably Kutch, Porbandar and Dahod becomes grim this year.

Even as the daily supply from reservoirs is being reduced, Narmada canal-based projects will take care of Rajkot and Jamnagar, the Mahi-based projects that of Ahmedabad, Bhvanagar, Amreli, Junagadh, and the Dharoi canal that of Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha. If necessary, he said, the government would foot 100 percent cost of immersing tube wells and hand pumps. In all, 230 tankers are supplying water in 232 villages now. The government is also planning exchanging water from one reservoir to another, looking at the level of water in each dam.