8,000 cusec water to be released from Narmada to save crops: Gujarat government

With many parts of the state reeling under water crisis due to inadequate rainfall, the state government has started releasing water from Narmada dam for drinking and irrigation purposes to such areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters that 8,000 cusec water will be released from Narmada dam for 12 days for irrigation in areas that have received little rain so far.

"Water level in Narmada dam has gone up in the last seven days due to good inflow, and even though the level is presently much lower than last year, we started releasing 8,000 cusec water from Wednesday to save crops. Water is being released for command areas of north and central Gujarat, and talukas of Ahmedabad district, Banaskantha, and Kutch, which have received very little rainfall so far," Patel said.

As of August 21, gross water storage in Narmada dam was 4,217 million cubic metre (MCM), which is 44.57 per cent of the designed storage capacity of 9,460 MCM. On the same day last year, water stored in the dam was 5,295 MCM. Inflow in the dam was 25,957 cusec on Tuesday.

The Deputy CM said that water is also being released to meet potable water needs in parts of Kutch and Banaskantha, while clarifying that there is adequate water in the dam to meet drinking water needs for the whole year.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the state has received 67.60 per cent of the average rainfall of last 30 years as of Tuesday this year. As against 831 mm, the average rainfall so far is 562 mm. However, north Gujarat region has received only 37 per cent of the average rainfall while it is less than 24 per cent in Kutch. Places like Lakhpat, Abdasa, and Rapar in Kutch have received less than 15 per cent rainfall.