Gujarat deals with 'dry', flood-like situations at same time

Though several parts of Gujarat received moderate to heavy rains in the last few days, the state Government today said 26 out of the total 248 talukas were yet to get proper spell of monsoon.
According to Health Minister and Government spokesman Nitin Patel, a majority of these 26 talukas (a sub-district unit) were in Kutch district, Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions, where rainfall till now remained under five inches.
Worst-hit talukas in Kutch where the rain has been deficient included Abdasa (30mm), Rapar (50mm) Nakhatrana (36mm) and Lakhpat (43). Santalpur (44mm), Shankheshwar(51mm), Radhanpur(52), Bhabhar(55) and Suigam (90), all in North Gujarat, also fall in the same category.

"Talukas like Vadnagar, Bhuj, Dwarka, Dhari, Mandal, Chanasma, Anjar, Bhachau and Paddhari received rains between 4 and 5 inches, which is better than other talukas. Besides these 26, all other talukas recorded considerable rainfall for agriculture," Patel told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, where progress of monsoon and other issues were discussed.
He said Gujarat has got 39.5 per cent of the total monsoon rains till now. "An average 39.5 per cent of the total rains have been received till now. This included 40 per cent in South Gujarat, 42 per cent in Saurashtra, 40 per cent in central and eastern regions, 31.5 per cent in North Gujarat and 25 per cent in Kutch."

Patel said since monsoon arrived in Gujarat late by about a month, the State administration had started supplying water to scarcity-hit villages through tankers. Though many of these villages have now received moderate to heavy rain, the Government has decided to continue the tanker service.

"There are a total of 124 villages, 54 of them in Kutch, across the State which are being supplied water through tankers. The rainwater takes time to reach beneath the ground and recharge hand pumps and wells. Till that happens, we will continue the water tanker facility for these villages."
Looking at the flood-like situation in many parts of Gujarat due to heavy rains, the Cabinet asked all civic bodies to remain alert and give priority to clearing water logging as soon as possible in their respective areas, he said.

"After 2000, this is the first time when Ahmedabad received almost 12 inches of rainfall in one day. To expedite relief work in rain-affected areas of the city, we have asked the local administration to rope in employees of other civic bodies," the Minister said.