Narmada water would be supplied to Saurashtra: Gujarat govt

Claiming to have taken all possible steps to supply Narmada water to Saurashtra, Gujarat Water Supply Minister Babubhai Bokhiria today said the state was committed to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the arid region. "State government is committed to supply water from the Narmada river to people of Saurashtra without interruption. Entire region is facing shortage of drinking water and the government is taking all possible measures to supply water from Narmada," Bokhiria told reporters here today. The minister met district officials here to take a stock of the situation. "Rajkot and many other cities in Saurashtra have become fully dependent on Narmada water and nearly 150 MLD water from Narmada is being supplied to Rajkot," he said. Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has been supplying water to households only on alternate days since November. When asked about pilferage of Narmada canal water for irrigation at some places, Bokhiria said, the government had an action plan to stop it. "Two companies of State Reserve Police have been deployed in the areas where water theft is rampant, and action would be taken even under Prevention of Anti-social Activities Act against the culprits," he said.