The eastern region has 4 major dams but benefits are reaped by central, north Gujarat

‘Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.’ This is the story of the entire eastern tribal belt of Gujarat that receives the heaviest rainfall, around 800 mm, in the state, but still remains perennially short of water, both for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Blame it either on the topography of the region or the government’s apathy, the irony is that although the region houses some of the major dams in the state along with canal networks, all the benefits are being reaped by the more prosperous (read politically powerful) regions of central and north Gujarat.

Almost 14 districts make up the eastern tribal belt of Gujarat. They include, Valsad, Navsari and Dangs in south, passing through Panchmahals and Dahod and reaching up to Banaskantha and Sabarkantha in north. Although it receives good rainfall, the region cannot hold water due to its hilly terrain and lack of provisions for rainwater harvesting.

The region has four major dams — Ukai dam in Surat, Kadana dam in Panchmahals, Narmada dam in Narmada and Dharoi dam in Sabarkantha. But the command area of the canals from these dams shows a complete neglect of the politically powerless tribals in the state.

Water from the Kadana dam reaches the Patel dominated areas in neighbouring Kheda district.

Even in Panchmahals, it caters to areas where the Patel community is in a majority. The Narmada canal’s command area starts from the tribal region, but it caters mainly to the urban areas of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana and even Saurashtra.

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