Gujarat: 9.5 lakh acres of land irrigated by 39 dams

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government will keep enough water in 56 reservoirs of the state to supply drinking water requirements until September 30. The government announced on Tuesday that the remaining water from dams is being diverted for irrigating standing crops even as the state stares at the prospect of a deficient monsoon this year.
Officials of the water resources department said on Tuesday in a statement that 9.5 lakh acres of land received irrigation water as the state government adopted drastic measures to save farmer’s crops.

Of the 56 dams in which water is being stored for drinking purposes, 36 are in Saurashtra, while the remaining are in other regions of the state, a government statement said.
In north Gujarat, Dharoi dam will provide both drinking water as well as water for irrigating over 37,000 acres of land in districts of north Gujarat.
In central Gujarat, over 5 lakh acres of land will be irrigated with water from Kadana and other smaller dams like Panam, Karad, Wadhwana, Watrak, Meshwo, Hathmati, Karjan, Sukhi, Dev, Patadungari and Edalwada.
Gujarat has been experiencing a shortfall of rain this monsoon and overall, dams are filled to less than half of their capacity in the state.
Sources said levels in dams will deplete further with the decision to divert water for irrigation.