51.68 lakh hectares of cultivable land devoid of irrigation by the State

Even after spending crores in Gujarat, 51.68 lakh hectares of land is devoid of irrigation water owing to the lack of a canal network in the state. 

The farmers have had to resort to tube wells and private wells to water the crops.

On the one hand,  the danger of groundwater depletion also plagues the state, as large areas of land are watered from the wells.

Many believe this to be an example of industries getting prioritised over agriculture in Gujarat.

The cultivable area in Gujarat is measured at 97.86 lakh hectares, out of which, 49.18 lakh hectares is irrigated by the government’s water resources department.

The remaining 51.98 lakh hectare land does not benefit from government irrigation or the water from the state’s canal network.

Several irrigation schemes are operational in Gujarat.

In Saurashtra, Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) and in south Gujarat, the Sujlam Suflam scheme is operational. However, there are many corners of the state still devoid of irrigation water.

An official said that every year new barrages, check dams, conveyance pipelines, and works to increase the lake capacity are done by the government but not enough water is available to meet the irrigation needs of the state.

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