Mahi main dam canal gate opened for rabi irrigation, 110 villages to get water

The canal gate at the Mahi main dam was opened on Wednesday to irrigate rabi crops. The target this season is to irrigate 22,670 hectares, and about 110 villages will benefit.

Water Resources Department Executive Engineer Vipin Patidar described the condition of the dam. According to him, the useful storage capacity of the Mahi main dam is 135.60 million cubic metres. The dam's water level is currently 447.75 metres, against a maximum level of 451.50 metres. The dam now holds 70.22 million cubic metres of live storage, which is 51.79 per cent of its total capacity.

Considering farmers' demand and the availability of water, it was decided at a meeting that water would be given for irrigation at most twice this season. The full quantity will be released in the first phase. The water for the second phase will depend on how much remains in the dam.

Present when water was released into the canal were Petlawad SDO of the Mahi project Dheeraj Jamod, SDO Pooja Patidar, SDO Manish Kannauj (E/M), sub-engineers J.S. Khare, Anurag Meda, Poonam Waskel and Kapil Saraunta (E/M), along with other department staff.

SDO Dheeraj Jamod appealed to farmers to sow crops that mature with little water, such as gram, first, since water is limited. He said this would ensure proper use of the available water and benefit more farmers.

The administration has asked villagers, farmers and livestock keepers living near the canal to be careful. Children should not be allowed near the canal. People should avoid entering the canal, bathing in it or going into the fast current. Animals should not be left loose near the canal. People have also been asked to prevent wastage of water and to use only the water they need, according to the fixed rotation.