Gujarat’s 203 reservoirs receive 556 MCM water, thanks to fresh round of rain; CM, DyCM review situation

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani reviewed threadbare the state’s water supply, agriculture and fodder situation in the state following widespread rains for the last two days at a high level meeting here in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma.

As per Saturday reading at 8 a.m. the state’s biggest reservoir behind the SardarSarovar Project (SSP) dam on the Narmada was receiving 1,02,000 cusec water from its catchment area upstream.

The SSP dam has alone received 278 million cubic metres (MCD), while the state’s 202 other dams in central and south Gujarat like Panam, Karjan,Kadana and Ukai have together received another 278 MCM water, totalling 578 MCM.

The Chief Minister directed that water from the Narmada be forthwith directed to Tupper dam in Kutch district for drinking purpose. And supply of fodder at concessional rate be maintained to Kutch and other places where it has so far rained less than 5-inch (125 mm). The district administration has also been instructed to ensure there is no fodder shortage.

The meeting reviewed the fighting fitness of the NDRF, Disaster Management and the 24×7 control room.

The Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Sanjay Prasad briefed the meeting that the current spell of the rain should prove beneficial for crops, especially where it was less than normal so far.

Those present at the meeting included Chief Secretary J.N. Singh, Chief Minister’s Chief Principal Secretary Kailashnathan, Principal Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, Additional Chief Secretary for Revenue Pankaj Kumar, Narmada Nigam Chairman Rathor, Water Resources Special Secretary Patel and other senior officers of departments concerned.

– Information