400 checkdams, 10 dams filled with Narmada waters

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Irrigation Department claims to have filled 400 checkdams, 67 village ponds and 10 dams by pumping 2,761 million cubic feet (mcft) of Narmada water through the SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) scheme.

According to the department, this was possible with the large reservoirs in Saurashtra already filled up to 42% capacity to meet the water needs of the region.

Officers of Rajkot and Bhavnagar irrigation circles claimed they had started operating four pipeline link canals of SAUNI in February-end and by April 7, pumped 2,761 mcft water.

They said dams like Aji-I, Machhu-I, Nyari-I, Veri, Machhu-III, Khodapipar and Nayka have been filled with Narmada water to meet drinking water needs of cities like Rajkot and Jamnagar and towns like Gondal and Dhrol.

Similarly, water has been pumped to Kaniyad and Krushnasagar dams to meet drinking water needs of Botad town.

Ponds like Devdhari, Shanala, Vanala, Tarnetar, Tikar, Dudhai, Sarva, Sarsana have also been filled to augment availability of drinking water in villages.

Officials claimed that the Rajkot and Jamnagar municipal corporations approached the State Government requesting Narmada water be pumped into dams supplying drinking water to these cities.

The government asked irrigation department to leverage the SAUNI pipeline.