Gandhinagar, 9 February 2013

Cabinet Minister Babubhai Bokhiria(Water resources(barring Kalpsar), Water supply) and Minister of state Nanubhai Vanani today held a press conference in Rajkot and assured satisfactory water supply for the city. Bokhiria said that the state government would take strict actions against those involved in illegal water lifting and water theft. He said such elements will be booked under PASA.

“Two companies of State Reserve Police have been deployed in the areas where water theft is rampant, and action would be taken even under Prevention of Anti-social Activities Act against the culprits,” Bokhiria said when asked about state’s preparedness against water pilferage.

Bokhiria assured minimum 165 mld water to Rajkot. He said as per the Narmada action plan, each city or district can be supplied 60% water from Narmada, and rest 40% water has to be sourced from local sources, but it has happened for the first time that local sources are not containing water, therefore the state government has planned 100% Narmada water supply, and therefore Rajkot will get daily 165 MLD water.

Bokhiria and Vanani are exploring all districts of Saurashtra region in a bid to check the ground realities on the issue of water and planning of water distribution for next summer. Parts of Gujarat including Saurashtra, Kutch and north Gujarat witnessed not-so-well monsoon last year. Almost all dams in Saurashtra are now dry and look like cricket grounds. However the state government has been able to supply water through Narmada canal and pipeline network. Villages where Narmada water can not reach, are served with tankers and bore wells. Bokhiria and Vanani are touring every district of Saurashtra. They hold meeting with district collectors, DDO and other concerned officials exclusively on the issue of water availability and supply.

The whole exercise is being carried out ahead of the season of summer. The state government has already started excavating dams across Saurashtra to make them ready for carrying more water in next monsoon. It is believed that the ministers will brief the state cabinet next Wednesday on the situation of water in Saurashtra. While Bokhiria is the only cabinet minister from Saurashtra, Vanani is elected from Surat.