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Gujarat government to fill up dams in wake of looming water crisis

The government has, therefore, decided to fill the dams in Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions to keep reserve stock of water for drinking purpose.

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Gujarat government's senior ministers held a meeting on Monday to discuss ways to address the looming water crisis in the state. This year's rainfall deficit in the state and in the catchment area of the Narmada river poses the greatest challenge ahead the government. The government has, therefore, decided to fill the dams in Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions to keep reserve stock of water for drinking purpose.

A senior minister on condition of anonymity said, "The looming water crisis situation is very worrying. Gujarat has very limited stock of water in Sardar Sarovar Dam reservoir and the water shortage may become more intense after December. We have decided to fill dams in different regions first so that drinking water stock can be assured."

"We have also assessed other sources of water that can be used, but our plans suffered because of poor rainfall in the state. Recharge of groundwater is almost nil so the state will have to remain totally dependent on Narmada water that is only 1.10 million acre feet (MAF), made available to the state by Narmada Control Authority (NCA) as per water sharing formula among partner states."

The NCA has sanctioned 6.80 MAF stock of water to Gujarat. Out of which, 2.54 MAF water has already been used and 4 MAF water will be given to farmers for irrigation in Ravi crop season. Gujarat has borrowed 0.20 MAF water from Rajasthan and 0.13 MAF from Maharashtra last year. In total, there will be a shortfall of around 1.17 MAF water stock in Gujarat this year.

A senior official from the government who was present at the meeting said: "The state received almost 25% less rainfall this year and the demand for irrigation water has increased by 20% in recent times. The government is seriously concerned the Lok Sabha polls as the same may fall in summers when the water crisis is generally at its peak. This was one of the concerns expressed by the ministers at the meeting."

TRADING WATER

Gujarat has borrowed 0.20 MAF water from Rajasthan and 0.13 MAF from Maharashtra last year. In total, there will be a shortfall of around 1.17 MAF water stock in Gujarat this year

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