AHMEDABAD: The rains may have hit the state late, but it seems to be making up for the lost time, at least in Saurashtra. The 200 dams in the state have already reached 35 per cent of their capacity, bringing some hope for farmers.

Data released by the irrigation department reveal that this year, the dams in the state have almost 12 per cent more water compared to last year.

Inspired by the success of Maan and Jobat irrigation projects, Narmada Valley Development Authority is focusing to increase farmers association in other irrigation projects of the valley.

NVDA chairman KL Agrawal on Wednesday said that there is need to mobilise farmers of the valley to own the projects to which they are going to be benefited.

Anticipating distribution of Narmada water soon to the city residents, Mayor Krishna Gaur called for the cleaning of storage tanks and pipelines, on Wednesday.

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government, which announced with great fanfare last week a sharp increase in the release of Narmada waters from the Sardar Sarovar dam into the canal, to help farmers downstream, was forced to cut down the amount of water released to about one-third on Monday.

GANDHINAGAR: Delayed monsoon has forced the Gujarat government to divert a huge 6,300 cusecs of Narmada water to large number of areas that are outside the Narmada command, mainly in central and north Gujarat in order to help farmers to go ahead with sowing operations, currently on a standstill.

As part of the efforts for extension of irrigation facilities, the State Government has chalked out a plan for construction of 67 new reservoirs under a multi-purpose project for drought-affected areas in the State. This will bring an additional 1,000 hectare under irrigation apart from developing other facilities.

Narmada river-banks will be developed spending an amount of Rs. one crore in Jabalpur. Urban Administration and Development Minister Babulal Gaur made this announcement while dedicating newly developed Shiv-Ghat with Rs. 50 lakh on the bank of Narmada river near Jabalpur.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had sanctioned Rs.

AHMEDABAD: Amdavadis would finally get their usual two hours of drinking water supply from Wednesday onwards. The irrigation department reported on Sunday that repair work in the Meshwo branch of the Narmada main canal was over. The masonry work would take at least two days to stabilize before they allow water to flow through the canal.

The State Government has fulfilled the long-cherished demand of citizens of Bhopal by completing Narmada Water Augmentation project. Now, the citizens will get adequate supply of drinking water.

The Environment Ministry on Friday lifted its stop-work order at Maheshwar hydel power project in Madhya Pradesh and allowed the construction of five remaining gates of the dam amidst concerns that existing structure could be severely damaged during the monsoon if not completed.

But it said the gates cannot be lowered to make the project operational till work related to relief and rehabilitatio