Couple of long-term possible measures against flood that Chief Minister mentioned in Banaskantha

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in his statement post his visit to flood-hit areas of Banaskantha and Patan last month had said that the government will think about both short-term and long-term measures in order to bring solution to flood-situation in Banaskantha.

It was initially assumed that the government might plan a new grand reservoir or dam to store surplus water in Banaskantha. But then there was also a doubt that how viable such project could be considering that Banaskantha is largely an arid belt and the situation of flood this year was an exception – according to locals it happened for the first time in last 75-100 years.

There are couple of deliberations on possibilities of long term plans that have been mentioned by Chief Minister during his ongoing five-day long stay in Banaskantha.

Shifting of vulnerable villages permanently

Rupani during his visit to Dhunsal village of Lakhni taluka in Banaskantha district said: In reference to the fact that low lying areas located next to river stream had faced the trouble of heavy rainfall and flood in year 2015 earlier and now in 2017 also, the government is giving thought in direction of a long-term solution. If find necessary and if there is agreement among villagers, the low lying villages located next to river stream will be relocated elsewhere. Not just this, but the government will also think about creation of new ‘gaam tal’ for such villages.

Shifting of flow of river

In another talk with locals at Nanodar village in same district, the Chief Minister in reference to flood in Rel river and subsequent damages due to that said the government was thinking about handing over the task of making a feasibility report to experts on possibilities of shifting Rel river flow to Kutch and Rann of Kutch.

DeshGujarat