Gandhinagar: Gujarat government has put on hold any decision about bringing paddy straw/fodder from Punjab for use in the water scarce areas of the state, Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel informed today.

Talking to newsmen here Patel, who also participated in the scarcity related sub committee meeting, said that there were quality issues with the straw.
‘We have put on hold the decision to bring the straw from Punjab to be used as cattle fodder in water scarce areas,’ Patel said.

Notably, a team from Gujarat led by minister Vasanbhai Ahir had visited Punjab to study the possibility. It has handed over its report the the government after which the decision has been taken. The state government had estimated a total need of 12 crore kg of fodder grass/straw for cattle in water-scarce areas due to scanty rain (the state saw almost 25% less rain during Monsoon this year while the Kutch region has seen only a little over 26%). Of this the government has arranged 5 crore kg and still needed 7 crore kg for which Punjab where the paddy straw is burnt to destroy, was explored as an option.

Sources said that the Punjab farmers were using good quality straw made from Basmati paddy crop for their own cattle. The other available straw was of poor quality. It is being apprehended that its use in Gujarat might also give rise to health issues among the cattle.

Earlier explaining about the works being done in the 96 water scarce talukas (51 announced earlier and 45 later by the state government) minister Patel said that so far under MANREGA 50 thousand people have been provided employment through 9000 works.

‘We have also demanded Rs 1725 crore from the centre through the central team which recently visited the water-scarce areas of Gujarat,’ he said.

DeshGujarat