Gandhinagar, DeshGujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister will kick off the works for laying of Narmada sub-minor canal network tomorrow.

While Chief Minister will remain present in the main function at Bamanva village near Dasada which is close to Little Rann of Kutch, as many as 16 other ministers will simultaneously launch the works in different villages in 9 districts.

Proposed sub-minor underground pipe-line network will supply water to 5 lakh ha land.

In last December, Gujarat cabinet had decided to implement Rs. 2,000 crore underground ‘sub minor canal’ project to irrigate 5-lakh hectares in 54 talukas, in the state falling under the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) Narmada command area.

While Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) will bear 90 per cent cost of the project in phase-1, the remaining 10 per cent to be borne by the farmers to be benefited. Farmers could chip in their share through ‘shram daan’ labour also.

About 4-lakh hectares are proposed to be covered by open channel and remaining portion through underground pipelines. The bulk of the project is to be implemented through gravity and would be installed diesel pump sets. When fully completed the SSP has plans to irrigate total 19-lakh hectares. Out of 18,45,000 ha irrigation area, over 10 lakh has been covered so far.

Since implementing ‘Sub Minor Canal’ does not require to land settlement deal with the farmers nor any rebate is given, it has been decided to lay underground pipelines with the consent of the farmers to ensure that they do not spoil the soil or do not create hindrance to farmers to move their farm implements and inputs or final produces. The UGPL would also take care of the problems of water-logging and damage to canals.

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