Delayed rain: Gujarat govt increases hours of power supply to agriculture

Gandhinagar

Gujarat Chief Minister today announced decisions on further water release for irrigation from dams and increased hours of agriculture power supply in view of present situation of delayed second round of rain.

A statement issued by government today stated that in response to demands made by farmers, the government has planned to release upto 1800 cusec water from Narmada main canal for 10 lift irrigation schemes covering north and central Gujarat under Sujlam Suflam project.

The statement further said that presently Ukai, Kadana, Damanganga, Panam, Vatrak, Bhadar, Fofal and Chhaparvadi-2 reservoirs supply water to farmers for irrigation purpose.

As many as 282 ponds are connected under Sujlam Suflam project and 248 of them are filled with water, the statement further said,

100-km stretch of Sujlam-Suflam spreading canal between river Sabarmati and river Banas has been filled with water. Farmers lift water through pumps in this stretch.

According to statement, the Chief Minister has directed Water resources department to increase the volume of water released for irrigation from 1100 cusecs to 1800 cusecs in 10 pipelines of Sujlam Suflam project.

500 cusecs water will be released from Kadana dam from July10 in Sujlam Suflam spreading canal. Water will be released from 23 dams in Saurashtra region that are having above 70% level of water as per demand.

Chief Minister has also taken a decision to increase the hours of power supply in agriculture sector by 2 hours daily. This means daily hours of power supply will be 10 instead of 8 at present.

– DeshGujarat