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Groundwater rose 5-7 ft, claims Gujarat government

Says that its Sujalam Sufalam Jal programme helped improve level

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A pond after (top) and before deepening
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The Gujarat government said on Sunday that its ambitious Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyaan aimed at improving water conservation in the state has helped increase the groundwater level approximately by anywhere between 5 and 7 feet.

The state further said that water level in wells in over 14,000 villages saw a rise, helping address the problem of water shortage.

Addressing a conference, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that in the last two years water storage capacity in the state had gone up under the project to 23,553 lakh cubic feet. He added that in the current year, thanks to good rains, so far the state has managed an additional water storage of 19,000 lakh cubic feet.

UP TILL THE BRIM

  • 12,279 pounds in 33 districts deepened; of this, 9,700 full till brim
     
  • 5,775 check dams desilted of which 4,600 full
     
  • 30,416 conservation works done 
     
  • 1,4000 villages have seen water levels in wells go up

The programme involved a month-long campaign to deepen water bodies by desilting and excavating. The campaign, aimed at Jal Bhagidari, envisaged equal participation from both the state and citizens with the former taking up 60% of the cost of works. It also undertook repair and restoration work of canals and ponds, rainwater harvesting as well as creating more check dams.

"The drive has got unprecedented public response and it has benefited citizens and millions of farmers by addressing the problem of water," said Rupani.

He said that the good monsoon ensured that newly deepened ponds and check dams turned into water reservoirs.

The state government has vowed to continue the drive next year as well.

The programme was featured in the success stories of government think-tank Niti Aayog's Composite Water Management Index report. Gujarat has been ranked first in the country for its water management for the last three consecutive years in the report.

Under the campaign 12,279 lakes have been deepened across the state in the last two years. Of these, 9,700 are now filled to the brim.

Desilting of 5,775 check dams was carried out and 4,600 have so far been completely filled. A part of the programme also saw 30,416 works related to water conservation taken up across all the districts under the MNREGA.

"Also, 35,960 km of canals were cleaned which ended up generating employment for 100 lakh people," said

Rupani, adding that with the state receiving over 95% rain this season, there won't be a shortage for irrigation or drinking.

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