Gandhinagar, Aug 19 (IANS) The Gujarat government will release irrigation water under the ‘Sujalam Sufalam Yojana’ in North Gujarat from August 20 to protect standing crops amid delayed rains, following a representation made to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel by Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary and Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani.
Patel, currently visiting the United States, spoke to Chaudhary and Vaghani over the phone after they apprised him of the situation facing farmers in North Gujarat and urged that irrigation water be released immediately.
Despite being abroad, the Chief Minister directed senior officials of the Irrigation Department to take immediate necessary action and assured the two leaders that adequate water would be made available to farmers.
Accordingly, irrigation water will be released from August 20 in the North Gujarat areas covered under the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana.
The move aims to provide timely water to standing crops and prevent potential crop damage and economic losses caused by delayed rainfall.
The decision comes as farmers in parts of North Gujarat worry about water availability for their standing crops during the current monsoon season.
The release through the irrigation network is expected to provide relief to thousands of farmers dependent on timely irrigation.
Chaudhary and Vaghani thanked Patel on behalf of North Gujarat farmers for responding promptly to their representation and directing the Irrigation Department to release water.
The state government said it decided to ensure irrigation water for farmers and protect standing crops from damage due to delayed rains.
–IANS
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