Gandhinagar: The Government of Gujarat today announced release of 8,000 cu sec water for 12-day period in Narmada canal to save crops in rain deficient areas of State.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said: Water storage in Narmada dam is sufficient to satisfy drinking water needs through the year. However present storage is not enough to satisfy irrigation water needs for entire year. The government has however started releasing 8,000 cu sec water today for a period of 12-days for rain deficient areas of central Gujarat, Ahmedabad, North Gujarat and Kutch to save standing crops.

Nitin appealed farmers to use this water carefully and not to draw huge volum of water for other purposes.

He said, ‘there has been good rain in catchment area and entire stretch from Indira Sagar in Madhay Pradesh to Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat is richer with heavy fresh inflow of water, thanks to good rain during last one week. Level of water in Sardar Sarovar had gone down to as low as 104 meter while storage left was just 1,000 mcft. Against this, the present level at 12 noon today is 116.20 meter level while storage is up at 23,000 mcft plus. However present storage is 7 meters lesser compared to same day last year when the level was 123 meter plus.’

Nitin said, the state cabinet had discussed the monsoon situation yesterday. He said the government was already releasing water to needy areas for drinking purpose, such as Tappar dam in Kutch for which release of 500 mcft water was approved, of which 70-80% has already reached.

DeshGujarat