Guj: Kutch declared scarcity hit district due to poor monsoon

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani Thursday declared Kutch as 'scarcity hit district' after it received just 26.51 per cent rains this monsoon.

Besides Kutch district, tehsils which have received less than 125 mm of rainfall have also been declared scarcity hit with effect from October 1, a state government release said.

"We held an extensive review and it has been decided that Kutch district, which has received only 26.51 per cent rains this monsoon, should be declared scarcity hit from October 1," Rupani told reporters after chairing a meeting to review the state's water situation.

He added that the district would get subsidies as per government rules and norms.

"We have also decided to declare all other tehsils of the state, where rainfall is less than 125 mm this monsoon, as scarcity hit," Rupani said, without giving number of such tehsils.

"Subsidies would be given to gaushalas (cow shelters) and panjrapoles (animal shelters) and new panjrapoles would be opened in the affected areas," he said.

Drinking water will be provided to the district from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river, Rupani said.

He said that drinking water pipeline projects worth Rs. 296 crore for Kutch district would be taken up on war footing.

Gujarat is staring at water scarcity as it has received just 73.87 per cent of rainfall this monsoon, a state government release said..

It added that Kutch has received just 26.51 per cent of average rainfall so far, while north Gujarat got 42.93 per cent, central Gujarat 66.83 per cent, Saurashtra 72.20 per cent and south Gujarat got the highest of 94.79 per cent.