Rs.3,475-cr works approved for early completion of Narmada Kutch Branch Canal

Gandhinagar(Information): Chief Minister Vijay Rupani here today took decision of providing 1-million-acre feet additional water to Kutch district to overcome prevailing drought situation, over and above already allotted, from surplus water flowing down the River Narmada into the sea.

The decision will help the Narmada waters fill up 38 ponds in 86 villages in six talukas of Rapar, Anjar, Mundra, Mandvi, Bhuj and Nakhtrana for 2.35 lakh acre of land to serve 3.80-lakh people.

The government has approved Rs.3,475-crore for the phase-1 of Kutch Branch Canal in-principle for early completion of works being implemented by Water Resources Department. He directed the administration to ensure minimum wastage of water.

This is out of 3-mcf additional water from the Narmada, considered to the Life Line of Gujarat, to be shared by Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions, 1-mcf each. This allocation was decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The bulk of the Narmada Canal Projects, under the SAUNI Yojna for Saurashtra and Sujalam Sufalam Yojna for north Gujarat, are nearing completion.

The Narmada waters will help the Kutch farmers grow abundant crops, raise underground water table, and help raise people’s standard of living. A large number of people in the district are dependent on cattle rearing, thus water will help grow fodder, increase milk production, stop migration of cattle owners.

The Rs.3,475-crore sanctioned will help, lay pipelines, build and fill reservoirs, connecting links, high-contour storage.

Plan is to fill Saran reservoir through pipeline from 105 km post of the Kutch Branch Canal to help 50,000 people to irrigate 42,000-acre in nine villages in Rapar taluka at estimated cost of Rs.500-crore.

Southern Link phase-1 will take water from Tappar reservoir in Mandvi taluka to fill 20 reservoirs to help 1.10-lakh people in 35 villages on 75,000 acres in Anjar, Mandvi, Mundra talukas at a cost of Rs.1,225-crore.

High Contour Storage from Tappar reservoir will fill six reservoirs in Bhuj and Mandvi talukas to serve 1,10-lakh people in 20 villages on 38,000-acre at a cost of Rs.1,200-crore.

Norther Link phase-1 will to take water from Tappar reservoir to Nirona dam in Nakhtrana taluka to serve 1.45-lakh people in 32 villages in three talukas on 80,000 acres at a cost of Rs.1,200-crore.