Indian Express 27.08.2009
Dry spell: SSNNL releases more water to save crops
To meet the growing demand for irrigation owing to inadequate rainfall in Gujarat, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) has started releasing over 10,000 cusec water in the canal.
“We have increased the release of water in the canal systems because there is a huge demand for irrigation as well as drinking water in Saurashtra and other regions of
the state,” said a senior SSNNL official.
He added that at present over 11,000 cusec water is being released from the Sardar Sarovar dam in the canal system. According to him, this is for the first time that such a huge quantity of water is being released in the canals from the Narmada dam.
“Around 6,000 cusec water is being provided in the Mahi command area in Vadodara district, where rainfall has been inadequate and irrigation is required to save the crops,” the official said
He added that around 2,000 cusec water is being provided in Fatehwadi canal to give irrigation in Dascroi areas where paddy is the main crop while through Mallya and Vallabhipur branch canals, irrigation is provided for cotton crops in Surendranagar district.
Moreover, apart from irrigation, Narmada water is the main source of drinking water in more than 8,000 villages in the state besides many towns and cities.
“As of now, 80 per cent of Ahmedabad’s total drinking water requirement and entire requirement of capital city of Gandhinagar is met with the Narmada water,” the official added.
According to him, if the water is used judiciously, there will be no shortage even in case of drought this year.
