Gandhinagar: The Government of Gujarat has taken a decision to release dam and reservoir water for irrigation in order to save standing crops amid prolong break during ongoing monsoon season.

The Chief Minister has asked Water Resource department to reserve drinking water required for the period upto 30th September this year and release rest of the volume of water for irrigation needs of farmers. DeshGujarat

Official press release:

In the wake of delayed and scanty rainfall, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in a compassionate decision today directed Water Resources Department to release water from dams and reservoirs of the state to irrigate 5-lakh hectare (ha) of land with immediate effect, to save the standing crops, after storing enough drinking water to last till September 30.

This direction is applicable for 88 out 141 dams and reservoirs in the Saurashtra region to irrigate 60,000 ha, Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat to irrigate 15,000 ha, Kadana Dam in Mahi River Command Area in central Gujarat to release 6,000 cusec, Panam and 10 other reservoirs to release 2.10-lakh ha, and six reservoirs in south Gujarat to release water for 1.60-lakh ha.

In view of scanty rainfall in July, the Chief Minister had earlier announced another pro-farmer decision to increase power supply for irrigation purpose from 8 hours to 10 hours last month.

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