Mahi canal gate in Jhabua to open on November 11 for rabi irrigation

The canal gate at the Mahi main dam in Jhabua district's Mahi project will be opened at 11:30 am on November 11 for rabi season irrigation. Farmers will begin getting water for their fields as soon as the gate is opened.

The project has set a target of irrigating 22,670 hectares this year. About 110 villages will benefit.

Water Resources Department Executive Engineer Vipin Patidar said the useful storage capacity of the Mahi main dam is 135.60 million cubic metres. Water has been set aside from this for irrigation and drinking. The dam's water level is currently 447.75 metres, against a maximum level of 451.50 metres. The dam holds 70.22 million cubic metres of live storage, which is 51.79 per cent of the total capacity.

Considering the available water and farmers' demand, it was decided at a meeting that water will be given for irrigation a maximum of two times. The full quantity will be given the first time. How much water is available the second time will depend on the storage left in the dam.

SDO Dheeraj Jamod has appealed to farmers to sow crops such as gram, which mature with less water. He said this would make better use of the available water and the benefit of irrigation could reach more farmers.

With water set to be released into the canal, residents, farmers and livestock keepers in villages near the canal have been asked to be careful. They have been advised not to send children near the canal, not to enter the canal or bathe in it, not to leave animals unattended, and to avoid unnecessary movement along the canal bank.