Gandhinagar, 15 July, 2014

Irrigation is key to prosperity in rural India. While speaking in the assembly, Irrigation Minister of Gujarat Shri Babubhai Bokhiria on Monday shared some details of the irrigation related works that are planned/under progress/accomplished in the state. Following are the highlights:

-In last 12 years, Gujarat’s irrigation capacity has increased by 49%. In 2000-01 it was 37 lakh ha while in 2013-14 it is 55 lakh ha. Once completed, SAUNI project will add additional 10 lakh acre to this. In last ten years, allocation of money to Irrigation department has increased by ten time.

-In Guarat, the central and southern parts are having 69% water, while north Gujarat has 11%, Saurashtra 17% and Kutch has 3% water. Narmda river’s surplus one million acre ft water has been allocated to north Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch areas.

-Two fresh water body(bandhara) works to protect the land against salinity in Kutch will be over. Through various similar works, about 5,000 ha area will be benefited in connection with protection against salinity. In South Gujarat, 15.21 km length of sea coast is witnessing protection works against erosion of land. The state has allocated Rs. 107 crore against erosion of land and Rs. 99 crore to control salinity.

-The state has planned excavation of 800 water bodies to increase their water storage capacity by 40 crore square ft.

-6,900 ha area is covered under irrigation through 850 small check dams and 200 big check dams.

-There’s a plan for further irrigation coverage in tribal dominated hilly areas from Ambaji to Umargam. To make this possible, additional water of Narmada will be supplied through pipelines to existing water bodies, reservoirs and check dams.

-Under Sujlam Suflam project, a 332 km long canal has been built between Kadana and Banaskantha covering 70,000 ha land under irrigation. Through various irrigation schemes based on Narmada main canal, 195 water bodies are connected to supply water to 581 villages and 8 cities. 30,000 acre area has been covered under irrigation in Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts.

-Under SAUNI project, Rs. 10,860 crore are to be spent to cover 10,22,589 acre area and 115 reservoirs under irrigation through four links and 1,126 km long lines.

-Irrigation project works to cover 18,000 ha land of 75 tribal villages of Shahera, Godhra and Lunawada talukas of Panchmahal through Panam high level canal are going on.

-Works are on for coverage of 5,000 ha land of 44 villages of Lunawada, Santrampur, Kadana talukas of Panchmahal district through Kadana high level canal project.

-The works for coverage of 9,940 ha land under irrigation network for 43 villages of Vyara and 21 villages of Songadh taluka through Ukai-Purna high level canal will be completed by December, 2014.

-Protection walls on the banks of river Tapi will be strengthened to protect Surat city from flood. Similarly various works are taken up to protect Dholka town from flood water of river Sabarmati.