Rethink decision of stopping water supply in right bank canal: Farmers to water minister

In September, the state irrigation department officials had said the Ukai-Kakrapar right bank canal will remain shut for 90 days from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026 for repair work.

Farmers in South Gujarat – under the leadership of Khedut Samaj Gujarat (a farmers’ organisation) – have already requested Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to withdraw the decision, citing losses if water isn’t supplied to the crops in time.

Talking to The Indian Express, Water Minister Patel said, “Today, farmers made representations to me and I have assured them of putting their issues before the Chief Minister and try to bring out some amicable solution. The farmers had also faced unseasonal rainfall in the current year’s summer season and in October. The decision will come in the next couple of days, keeping in mind the large number of affected farmers.”

It is worth noting that farmers, mainly paddy growers and sugarcane crop growers, faced losses due to the unseasonal rainfall in October.

The sugar mills of Surat district had decided to harvest the standing sugarcane crop from November 10, which was initially scheduled for the first week of October. The crops are still submerged in rainwater.

The harvesting of the sugarcane crop in Surat usually begins after Diwali. The Bardoli, Sayan, Kamrej and Mahuva sugar cooperative mills have announced that sugarcane harvesting will happen from November 10 to November 15.

Kamrej Sugar Mill president Ashwin Patel said, “The reason behind the delay in sugarcane harvesting is the unseasonal rainfall recorded in October. The standing crop of sugarcane is submerged in the water.”

Sources among the farmers said the area of operation of the Ukai-Kakrapar Canal Division covers the entire area of cooperative sugar companies like Kamrej Sugar, Sayan Sugar, Pandavai Sugar and Vataria Sugar. All four sugar factories have a sugarcane plantation and cultivation area of one lakh ten thousand (1,10,000) acres. If we consider the average production of 22 tons per acre, then approximately 25 lakh tonnes (25,00,000) of sugarcane is crushed by the above four companies. If we consider the 30% reduction in production from the current crushing season (2025-26) due to the 90-day closure of irrigation water, approximately 7 lakh (7,00,000) tons of sugarcane may be affected. If we take into account the average price of Rs 3300, then farmers are likely to suffer a loss of approximately Rs. 250 crore, says a farmer in Surat district.

Congress leader and farmer leader of Surat, Darshan Naik said, “The paddy is cultivated in 2.50 lakh acres in the area of Ukai Kakrapar Canal Division, out of which approximately 1 crore ten lakh (1,10,00,000) tonnes of paddy is produced, and its market value is approximately Rs. 1500 crore. If the government stops water for 90 days, then the production of summer paddy cannot be completed. As a result, farmers will suffer a loss of approximately Rs. 1,500 crore. Additionally, vegetables and other crops are cultivated on approximately 1,25,000 acres in various locations. If the canal remains closed for 90 days, there will be a direct impact on the production of all these vegetable crops and fodder for livestock. Due to this, there is a possibility of a shortage of milk and vegetables. Farmers and animal husbandry are likely to suffer losses of around Rs. 250 crore due to the decline in milk and vegetable production. It is our request to the state government to rethink the decision of closing the water supply of the Ukai Kakrapar right bank canal.”