The government took the decision because of scanty rainfall across Gujarat and increasing demand for water from farmers.
The Gujarat government on Saturday said farmers in 57 'dark zone' talukas, where groundwater has plunged to critically low level, will not be forced to install micro-irrigation systems to get electricity connections. The government took the decision because of scanty rainfall across Gujarat and increasing demand for water from farmers.
"Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has directed that farmers in dark zone areas should be given relaxation. The farmers in these areas will not be forced to install micro-irrigation tools to get power connection for farming," said Minister for Energy Saurabh Patel.
"There are such 57 talukas that fall under dark zone and farmers will be allowed to continue irrigation through conventional modes until a new announcement is made by the government," Patel added.
As per state policy, farmers in 'dark zone' are supposed to install systems like drip-irrigation apparatus and sprinklers to ensure groundwater is not wasted. Dark zones are over-exploited blocks where the groundwater level had significantly gone down.
The state in 2001 given the tag to the 57 talukas from Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Patan, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha, Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Vadodara. Kutch, Rajkot and Kheda districts. In 2003, issued a directive putting a ban power connection for farming.
Following protests by opposition parties, the then CM Narendra Modi-led government in 2012 lifted the ban on new power connections and made micro-irrigation system mandatory for farmers wishing to apply for new electricity connections.
"The government has taken this decision to ease the burden of demands for irrigation water. If the decision was not taken, the farmers in these regions would have to be given water from Narmada," said senior government official on condition of anonymity.
The official added, "Narmada already has depleted water stock this year and the existing level may fall short. This decision would lessen the burden over Narmada water for irrigation."
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