Gujarat’s high-powered committee with Chief Minister in chair reviews truant monsoon

“Implement ‘monsoon contingency plan’ in entire state without delay

 “Take urgent preventive steps for long-term supply of water, fodder” 

– Narendra Modi

Gandhinagar, Saturday: In the wake of uncertain and inadequate rainfall during the current monsoon season, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today directed the administration to implement the monsoon contingency action plan for all the 26 districts on a war footing without delay.

Addressing the high-powered state-level review meeting, he asked the entire administration to be compassionate to the problems of the people and be committed to provide enough water for irrigation and drinking purposes, fodder, essential commodities and create rural employment opportunities.

Mr. Modi, who returned here late last night form official tour of Japan, today asked the high-powered committee to review the situation due to truant monsoon looking to the urgency and gravity of the problem on daily basis. The committee was constituted before he had left for Japan.

He also asked Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam and Water Supply and Water Resources Department to complete early the works related to Narmada canals, canals-based and pipeline-based water grid schemes which were to be taken up after monsoon. He called for optimizing water supply from reservoirs behind big dams or smaller check dams for a long-term and, if needed, supply water through tankers.

The situation is graver in the villages of Saurashtra & Kutch and North Gujarat regions. He called for taking up the water-grid projects for 6,026 villages and 105 problem towns post-monsoon should be taken up immediately, install hand pumps in hilly tribal areas, deepening wells, sinking bore wells and drip-irrigation schemes. 

  

Mr. Modi discussed the presentation for Centre’s assistance to be placed before the Central Team scheduled to visit Gujarat on August 3, 2012. He also explored possibility of artificial rain. Today’s meeting was attended by high-power ministerial committee, senior secretaries, besides other top functionaries of departments concerned.