Govt puts off plan to shut water supply from Right Bank canal

Ishwarsinh Thakorbhai Patel, Minister of State for Water Resources and Water Supply (independent charge) told The Indian Express on Saturday, “In the meeting, it was discussed that this year, farmers faced crop loss due to unseasonal rainfall in May and October months. Two times the agricultural yields were damaged, and if a 90-day closure of water supply is implemented, farmers will have to bear a third yield loss. Keeping in mind farmers’ benefit, it was decided to postpone the closing of the water canal network. The decision was shared with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who both agreed to postpone the closure of the water canals. This work can be done next year.”

He added, “The right bank canal network and the left bank canal network of Ukai Kakrapar are around 65-year-old structures. Earlier, the water-carrying capacity of the right bank canal was 2,400 cusecs, and in 2012, this was increased to 3,000 cusecs. As the structures are old, the iron rods and cement concrete at multiple places are damaged. We have received complaints from farmers regarding low pressure in the water flow within the canal network. Keeping this in mind, considering the farmers’ concerns, the water-carrying capacity should be increased to 4,200 cusecs.”

In September, the then Minister of State for Water Supply and Water Resources, Mukesh Patel, announced that the water supply for irrigation from the Right Bank Canal network of Ukai Kakrapar would remain closed from December 1 to February 28, 2026. During these days, the existing canal can be widened and deepened to increase its water-carrying capacity.

Sources said the right-bank canal network, which originates from Kakrapar and extends to Tadkeshwar and Olpad passes through various villages in the Surat district. Over four lakh farmers will be affected due to the closure of water for irrigation, said sources.

After the announcement, Khedut Samaj, Gujarat (farmers NGO) organised a protest and handed a memorandum to different platforms of the state government.

Khedut Samaj Gujarat South Gujarat president Ramesh Patel said later, “Twice, farmers already faced the loss of their crops due to the unseasonal rainfall this year, and if the water supply is kept shut, they will face a third yield loss.”

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