Farmers along the Gujarat coast should have been rejoicing at the prospect of a timely monsoon. Instead, they have suddenly become gloomy after unnaturally aggressive high tides have filled their fields and ponds with saline seawater. Many fear a drinking water crisis as their ponds, meant to store fresh rain water, are now brimming over with saline water. Farmers say they may not be able to cultivate anything for years together as their fields have become saline.

The struggle for water continues in drought hit Gujarat

• A freshwater crocodile, found usually in Chambal, Ganga and Mahanadi rivers, has been spotted in the Chilka lake in Orissa. Extensive fishing in these rivers may have forced crocodiles to

Jamnagar shows the way, starts a movement to desilt lakes

Faced with a severe drought, the Gujarat government decided to reserve water from a dam for the town of Jamnagar. Rural folk of Saurashtra protested. In the ensuing riots, three people died

A major gas pipeline project in Gujarat is almost on the verge of getting derailed due to opposition from Jamnagar Congress MP Vikram Madaan. The Mangala Development Pipeline project is the longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline in the world.

Work on 590 kms of pipeline has been completed from Barmer to Salaya in Gujarat.

Reliance Industries (RIL), the country