Gandhinagar: In a major relief for farmers, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved the early release of irrigation water through the Narmada canals starting Thursday, June 11, 2026. The decision has been taken in the larger interest of farmers in the Narmada command area to support timely irrigation of standing crops.
The announcement follows representations made by MLAs and MPs from the region requesting early water release to meet agricultural needs during the critical farming season.
Decision Taken After High-Level Review Meeting
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Narmada Project to review the current water availability and irrigation requirements.
After assessing the available water stock and crop conditions, the Chief Minister directed that irrigation water be released ahead of the originally scheduled timeline to ensure that farmers do not face shortages.
Officials present in the meeting included senior representatives from the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited and the Water Supply Department.
Water Release to Support Farmers’ Irrigation Needs
The decision is expected to significantly benefit farmers across the Narmada command area by ensuring timely water supply for crops during the irrigation cycle.
Key objective of the decision includes:
- Ensuring uninterrupted irrigation supply
- Protecting standing crops from water stress
- Supporting agricultural productivity in command areas
The state government emphasized that the move reflects its continued focus on farmer welfare and agricultural stability.
Senior Officials Present in Review Meeting
The high-level meeting was attended by key officials, including:
- Chairman, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. Mukesh Puri
- Principal Secretary, Water Supply Department Shahmeena Husain
- Additional Principal Secretary to CM Dr. Vikrant Pandey
- Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar
- Director (Command Area Development), Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd.
- Director (Canal)
- Member Secretary, Water Supply Board Bhagdev
Officials reviewed water storage levels and irrigation demand before finalizing the decision.
PM-Kisan Scheme Highlighted as Key Support for Farmers
Alongside the irrigation decision, Gujarat highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, which has significantly strengthened farmer incomes through direct financial assistance.
Since its launch, the scheme has provided:
- Over ₹23,083 crore transferred in Gujarat
- Benefits to more than 69.25 lakh farmer families
- Assistance delivered through 22 instalments via DBT
At the national level, more than 11 crore farmers have received over ₹4.27 lakh crore under the scheme.
Direct Benefit Transfer Ensures Transparency
The government emphasized that PM-Kisan is fully based on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring that funds reach farmers without intermediaries or leakages.
To strengthen transparency, the scheme includes:
- Mandatory land record verification (land seeding)
- Aadhaar-bank account linking
- Compulsory e-KYC verification
These measures have been implemented in phases to ensure that only eligible farmers receive benefits directly into their bank accounts.
Government Focus on Agriculture and Rural Stability
The Gujarat government stated that both timely irrigation support and financial assistance schemes are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector.
Officials said the early release of Narmada canal water will help ensure crop security, while schemes like PM-Kisan continue to provide financial stability to farmers across the state and country.
