Vadodara: The state government project to construct a high level Panam canal at the cost of Rs 130 crores to supply water from the Panam dam to farmers of rural areas in Panchmahal and Mahisagar districts for irrigation is on the verge of completion.

The planning under the project is to provide water for irrigation to 75 villages of Panchmahal and Mahisagar districts.

A 35 km long main canal has been built and a network of 70 kms long minor canals has been partially completed. Once completed, the project will facilitate irrigation of 18,000 hectares agricultural land in 75 villages of Shahera, Godhra and Lunawada. Work on 40 km of minor canals has been completed while work on the remaining portion is under progress. Farmers of those parts where work on the minor canals has been completed have even begun receiving water for irrigation.

As a result, farmers of Shahera and Godhra talukas are no longer dependent only on the monsoon for agriculture but have begun growing crops even in other seasons. On the other hand, the project has allowed the water levels to rise in the check dams and wells of the said areas. The problem of drinking water and fodder for livestock in this area has also been alleviated to a large extent.

Considering the pace at which it is being implemented, work on the project is expected to get completed in July of this year. DeshGujarat