Deficient rainfall in Guj, situation worrisome: government

The Gujarat government today said the water situation in the state was "worrisome" as 44 tehsils in the state have received very little rain this monsoon so far.

A monsoon review meeting was held at Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's official residence in Gandhinagar today.

Due to scanty rains in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada, Gujarat's lifeline, has only two per cent water stock against its capacity of 5,760 million cubic meters (mcm), a government release said.

It also announced relief measures such as additional two hours' electricity supply for farms to save the crops, supply of fodder at Rs 2 per kg in dry areas and immediate filling of a dam in Kutch to continue supply of drinking water.

Several ministers and senior bureaucrats attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters later, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel conceded that the situation was "indeed worrisome" as most of the dams, including Sardar Sarovar Dam, have not received enough water inflow despite the monsoon being halfway through.

During the meeting, Rupani ordered immediately release of 500 million cubic feet (mcft) of water from Sardar Sarovar dam to fill up Tappar Dam in Kutch district.

Patel told reporters that Gujarat was witnessing such a situation after a very long time.

"Though rain lashed South Gujarat and parts of Saurashtra in the initial spell, it has stopped since then. 44 tehsils have received less than 5 inches (125 mm) of rain till now. Kutch region, North and Central Gujarat have received negligible rainfall," he said.

"This is a worrisome situation which has come about after many years. During today's meet, it was decided that farmers, who are getting eight hours of electricity, will now get it for 10 hours. The CM will hold such review meetings regularly in coming days," said Patel.

"Due to scanty rainfall in the 1,200 km long catchment area of Narmada, water inflow is very little. Against the storage capacity of 5,760 million cubic meters(mcm), Sardar Sarovar dam has only 102 mcm water, just two per cent of its holding capacity," said Patel.

The situation was equally grim in the case of other major dams including Ukai in South Gujarat and Dharoi and Kadana in North and Central Gujarat, he said.

Patel, however, expressed hope that the situation will improve.

"We will give priority to people's needs and reserve water for drinking purposes for now. However, we are confident that people will not face any difficulty as the monsoon is not over yet," the deputy chief minister said.