A high level meeting of the government under the chair of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was held on Saturday in Gandhinagar where the issue was discussed
With hotter days around the corner, the Gujarat government is facing a tough time as the state's major sources of water including Narmada dam are drying up. The government is now preparing to send water to villages by tankers and trains, according to sources. A high level meeting of the government under the chair of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was held on Saturday in Gandhinagar where the issue was discussed.
A senior functionary from the Gujarat government said, "The situation of drinking water is serious and it could be more intense as summer arrives. The government has decided to alert all the district collectors on the situation and to run tankers in villages where local sources have dried up totally."
"Narmada too is drying up and so are other reservoirs and lakes. The government is also thinking of bringing water from neighbouring states by trains, in case the situation goes out of control. The water crisis could lead to a clash between groups which could lead to a law and order situation too. Thus the government has instructed the district authorities to take precautionary measures for drinking water supply," added the sources.
Water supply minister Parbat Patel, chief secretary Dr JN Singh and other officials were present at the meeting too. After the meeting, the chief secretary said that the government had made all the arrangements for drinking water supply and Gujarat had sufficient stock of water.
"The chief minister had called the meeting as a stock taking exercise and gave instructions to officials of different departments. Gujarat has sufficient water as we can use additional stock of 1 lakh million cubic meter water from Sardar Sarovar dam. The clash between farmers and authorities taking water supply for irrigation in Ahmedabad district will be solved amicably," Singh said.
CRISIS LEADS TO CLASHES
- Farmers from Dholka tehsil in Ahmedabad district are up in arms against the government.
- Clashes between farmers and government employees were reported when water for agriculture was not given from Fatehwadi canal on Sabarmati river.
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