SSNNL expedites canal work for Kutch, N Gujarat

Having obtained the revised cost clearance last year for Rs 38,240 crore, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) is expediting canal work in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch regions of the state. Work orders for canal projects in these regions will be issued on contract basis in the next 3-4 months, announced Nitin Patel, minister, water supply water resources, Government of Gujarat on Thursday.

According to Patel, the state government is planning to give out orders for five major works on Kutch Branch Canal costing Rs 1,265 crore out of the Rs 4,600 crore works planned. The Kutch Branch Canal is estimated to be 360 km long, drawing water for the Kutch district from the already completed Narmada Main Canal. The district of Kutch itself will see a total area of 278,561 acres of land in 182 villages getting irrigation water supply, once the canal works are completed.

 

"In all, we have planned a command area of 1.845 million hectares, of which 500,000 hectares of canal work is already developed. Work orders for the rest will be given out in next 3-4 months. From then on, the projects will be completed in a span of 18-24 months," Patel said.

However, due to industrialisation and projects like freight corridor, special economic zones (SEZs) and special investment regions (SIRs), the state government estimates loss of around 100,000 hectares of command area under SSNNL.

SSNNL will also be developing pumping stations in the three regions to lift water from low lying areas to higher altitudes throughout the canals. In Kutch alone, the state government has awarded contracts for three pumping stations worth Rs 518 crore to lift the Narmada water by 60 metres, Patel added.

Meanwhile, offering a perspective on growth in water supply, Patel said, "We used to witness 60,000 water tankers being used during summer season in the past. Last year, the number came down to 300. Soon we would want to make Gujarat a tanker-free state."