Gujaratstartups, GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has formed an experts group to examine the feasibility of laying down of underground pipeline for providing waters to irrigate 18 lakh hectares (ha) in the Narmada command area. The idea of pipelines in lieu of field channels was first floated by former chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) NV Patel. It met with stiff resistance from several quarters, including top consultant CC Patel, ex-water resources secretary, Government of India, and state irrigation minister Nitin Patel.

The high-profile experts group is headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi's water resources advisor BN Navlavala. Its main job is to make a technical evaluation of the working of the "existing open channel conduit of sub-minors", existing in Central Gujarat, even as looking into the possibility of laying down underground pipelines in their place. It will also examine whether underground pipelines will help micro irrigation.

The official order for forming the experts group is dated January 1, but the government chose to announce it just a day after the appointment of SSNNL's new chairman D Rajagopalan, who retired as state chief secretary in December-end. The experts group consists of former water resources secretary, Maharashtra, RG Kulkarni; former Narmada secretary, Gujarat, NB Desai; former irrigation secretary, Gujarat, BJ Parmar; former chairman of Indira Gandhi Naher Board, Rajasthan; and director (civil), KS Shrinivas, SSNNL, who will serve as its member-secretary.

Soon after chairing its first meeting on Thursday, Navlavala said the experts group will examine not just the working of the existing open channel conduit in Narmada command but also in the command areas of Ukai, Kakrapar, Majham, Vatrak and Karjan dams. "It will visit Konkan region in Maharashtra, where pipelines were laid in 1980s but results were not encouraging. There is now a plan to lay down pipelines network in Rajasthan in 1.25 lakh ha of Narmada command", he added.

Those against field channels already built in 10,000 km length as against the proposed 52,000 km say that these get destroyed by flood waters and bullock carts criss-crossing the Narmada command. Also, rich farmers refuse to allow waters passing through sub-minors to pass from their fields to tail-enders. Besides, pipelines would not require any land acquisition, a major headache for tens of thousands of ha. Those against pipelines say, it is "technically not feasible" as it would require a huge amount of power to be used to pressure water to flow.

Source: Times of India