The Gujarat government is constructing a weir across the Mahi river at Poicha village in Vadodara district at an estimated cost of Rs 349 crore, which is expected to provide irrigation benefits to nearly 29,000 acres of land, officials said on Saturday. The announcement was made by Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Ishwarsinh Patel in the state Assembly.
Responding to a legislator’s query, Patel said the project is part of a series of water conservation initiatives aimed at expanding irrigation coverage and improving groundwater availability in the state. “With the construction of this weir, approximately 29,000 acres of land in the surrounding areas will benefit from irrigation, and the groundwater level in the region will rise,” he said.
The weir will be 67 metres long and 11 metres high, and is designed to store water for up to 14 kilometres upstream. According to Patel, the storage created by the structure will not only support irrigation but also contribute to the recharge of groundwater in the surrounding region.
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The benefits of the project are expected to extend beyond Vadodara to parts of Kheda and Anand districts. Officials said the initiative will strengthen water management infrastructure along the Mahi river and improve agricultural water availability in central Gujarat.
The minister highlighted that such water conservation structures are critical in addressing seasonal water shortages and supporting agricultural activities in areas dependent on groundwater and canal irrigation systems. “This project aligns with the government’s broader strategy, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to enhance water storage infrastructure and irrigation potential across the state,” Patel added.
The Poicha weir is among several measures being implemented by the Gujarat government to augment water resources and stabilise irrigation, aiming to provide long-term benefits for farmers and the local environment.
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