Gujarat taps Narmada water to save kharif crops

The delayed monsoon in Gujarat has led the state government to initiate measures to safeguard agricultural crops. In the wake of a delay in the monsoon, the government has ordered release of 1,650 million cubic feet (mcft) or 6,300 cusec water from the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) dam across the Narmada as an urgent measure to save the kharif crops from withering.

“The timely and urgent step has been taken to tide over the sudden increased demand for water to save crops already sown, owing to delayed monsoon in most parts of the state,” said Jaynarayan Vyas and Saurabh Patel, state government spokespersons-ministers.

The order is effective from on Wednesday and the water is being released through the existing Narmada canal and Sujaam Sufalam pipeline networks, the government informed in a statement issued on Wednesday. Earlier, the government had also decided to increase three-phase power supply for agricultural purposes by two hours with immediate effect from the earlier duration of eight hours.

The 1,650 mcft water thus released is for irrigation in Mehsana, Patan and Sabarkantha districts in north Gujarat, and also for Sanand and Viramgam talukas in Ahmedabad district. The step is believed to benefit farmers who have taken up kharif crops on about 25,000 hectares, informed the ministers.

The monsoon in the state is believed to have been delayed by close to a fortnight. The India Meteorological Department had earlier predicted the monsoon to set in the state from June 15 onwards.