Statewide water supply grid to address scarcity, says minister

The minister said 1,483 schemes have been completed between September 2022 and September 2023 under the Nal Se Jal Yojana. While 135 schemes worth Rs 79 crore have been approved, the government has inaugurated new schemes worth Rs 549 crore and laid foundation stone for schemes worth Rs 969 crore.

“Due to the assurance of water availability in Saurashtra-Kutch, migration of people has stopped and industrial revolution has taken place there. In the current year, 9 group schemes have been completed, covering 388 villages,” said Bavaliya.

He further said that Gujarat has become the first state in India to bring awareness regarding water audit. “Per batch, 25 operators are being trained in ITI centres. After completion of the training, the operator gets a toolkit so that he can repair and maintain his village water plan… A toll free helpline number 1916 has been operationalised for redressal of complaints related to department services and a 24-hour control room is functioning in Gandhinagar,” he added.

Participating in the discussion of budgetary demands of the department, Bavaliya said 98,234 works have been undertaken in the last six years under Sujalam Suflam Jal Abhiyan. These works have increased the water storage capacity by 1,07,621 lakh cubic feet, he added.

He said pressurised irrigation and micro irrigation works are planned to cover maximum area under micro irrigation to save water. This includes starting 10 irrigation schemes in Saurashtra, six in Kutch, five each at Udavan in south Gujarat and north Gujarat as well as one at central Gujarat.