Narmada Nigam says water supply to farms from Mar 15

The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) of Gujarat government has altered the decision to stop water supply for irrigation February 15 onwards.

The SSNNL had given the advertisemet informing farmers and their cooperative society that water will not be available for irrigation in Saurashtra and Ahmedabad region through Narmada canals February 15 onwards, but the department has made the clarification that the supply would continue till the prescribed date of March 15 of this year.

The SSNNL releases water through Narmada Project canals in state for irrigation till March 15, but following to water shortage this season, the SSNNL decided to stop water supply from February 15. The government earlier had announced that the farmers should not cultivate crops in summer season, if they were totally dependent over Narmada water.

However, following to increasing criticism, the SSNNL now has altered the decision to stop water supply.

The chairman and managing director SS Rathore said, "The chief engineer of SSNNL of Saurashtra region had given the advertisement because the canals were under maintenance but that decision has been changed now and water supply shall continue till March 15 only. The maintenance will be done after that date only."

The governmet is hand in glows over this situation.

A senior official in the government said, "The decision was taken to stop water supply for irrigation from February 15 and the advertisement was the part of the same. But that has been revoked after the issue resulted in criticism."

Another senior official from SSNNL said, "This advertisement has been given to alert the farmers against taking crops in summer and the season of sawing starts around February 15."

"The water supply shall continue for the Rabi crop but no water will be made available to farmers or their cooperative society for new season February 15 onwards."

"The farmers and their societies are supposed to make the requisition before the SSNNL to receive water from canals and we will not allow any fresh requisition."

NEW MOVE

• SSNNL releases water through Narmada Project canals in state for irrigation till March 15, but following to water shortage this season, the SSNNL decided to stop water supply from February 15.
   
• Government had earlier announced that the farmers should not cultivate crops in summer season, if they were totally dependent over Narmada water.