Gujarat crisis: Narmada water only for drinking; no supply for irrigation

With Gujarat staring at an acute water crisis, the state government has stopped supply for irrigation from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, saving the reserves solely for drinking purposes.

"This year, the water storage in Narmada dam is 50% of normal. South Gujarat has less water, while Saurashtra and North Gujarat have sufficient for drinking purposes. We had informed the farmers in advance not to cultivate the summer crop and they have obliged," Minister of State for Irrigation and Water Supply Parbat Patel told mediapersons.

The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), which regulates water supply from Sardar Sarovar Dam, had informed farmers in January itself that irrigation water would be stopped after March 15.

Called the 'Lifeline of Gujarat', the Narmada dam water irrigates over 18,000 sq km of area across 12 districts of Gujarat. The current water level in the dam stood at about 105 metres, barely five metres short of the critical level of 110 metres. The water level stood at 124.4 metres on December 1, 2017. Its current expanse is less than 90 km, down from 214 km during the monsoon season.

After stopping water for irrigation, the outflow of water that was around 9,000 cusecs till Thursday, was on Friday reduced to around 4,900 cusecs, with 4,300 cusecs for drinking purposes and 600 cusecs for downstream of the river towards its tail in Bharuch.

The government has also asked farmers not to lift water illegally from Narmada canals and deployed police to prevent any such violation. "Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure that no theft of water takes place from the canals or reservoir," Achal Tyagi, ASP, Kevadia Colony, said.

Farmers' protest

Meanwhile, several farmers' groups organised protests in North Gujarat and Bharuch over stoppage of irrigation water.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Friday had told the state Assembly that there was enough water for drinking purposes till the next monsoon. "Other than Narmada dam, there is enough water in Dharoi and Sipu dams, as well as in dams of Saurashtra and South Gujarat," he had said.