Gujarat top state in drip irrigation system usage: Anandiben

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today said Gujarat topped the list of states in employing drip irrigation system.
"Prime Minster Narendra Modi had recently called a meeting to review the scarcity-affected areas and it emerged that Gujarat is best in the country in usage of drip irrigation system," she said.
The CM today laid a foundation stone of the "bulk pipelining project" worth Rs 597 crore in Jamkandorana town in Rajkot district. The project is part of the "Narmada Master Plan" under which the Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited would lay nearly 171-km-long pipeline from Navda (Ahmedabad) to Upleta (Rajkot).
After completion of the project, which is expected to be ready by November 2017, most of the cities and villages in Rajkot district would start getting water from Narmada river through the pipeline.

Meanwhile, Patel said her government has set a target to use drip irrigation system in around 3 lakh hectares of land as against the target of 2 lakh hectares set last year.
She said the usage of the drip irrigation system was the highest in Banaskantha district in the state.
"The state government is promoting the drip irrigation system as Gujarat is witnessing insufficient rainfall and the system is very useful for agriculture," Patel added.