Gujarat Completes 221 Lakh Cubic Metres Of Earthwork In Three Years

The Gujarat government has reported that it has completed 2.21 crore cubic metres of earthwork over the past three years, exceeding its planned target and significantly boosting the state’s irrigation and water storage infrastructure, Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Ishwarsinh Patel said on Wednesday.

The large-scale work, carried out between 2022–23 and 2024–25, was undertaken by the Water Resources Department as part of special annual drives aimed at strengthening reservoirs and improving irrigation reach, particularly to farmers located at the tail-end of canal networks. Officials said the initiative focused on enhancing both water storage capacity and the efficiency of distribution systems across the state.

According to the government, the original target for the three-year period was 203 lakh cubic metres of earthwork. However, the department surpassed expectations by completing 221.37 lakh cubic metres, marking what the minister described as a “new milestone” in Gujarat’s irrigation development efforts.

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Along with earthwork, structural improvement and maintenance activities were also carried out across approximately 123 lakh square metres, covering a total canal length of 4,223 kilometres. These works included the removal of vegetation such as bushes and shrubs from dams, canals, lakes and drainage channels to ensure smoother water flow and better system efficiency.

The government also undertook desilting and deepening operations in reservoirs, rivers, check dams and canals, along with maintenance of drainage systems and flood management infrastructure. Officials said these activities were aimed at improving water carrying capacity, preventing blockages during monsoon flows and strengthening embankments and bunds in vulnerable areas.

Highlighting the scale of the operation, Minister Ishwarsinh Patel noted that work was carried out across 1,474 sites with the deployment of heavy machinery from irrigation mechanical divisions based in Vadodara and Ahmedabad. He said teams worked under challenging conditions to complete conservation and strengthening projects across multiple regions of the state.

The minister added that ongoing modernisation efforts would continue in the coming years, with a focus on technology-driven irrigation upgrades. He expressed confidence that such sustained infrastructure development would help Gujarat move closer to becoming a “water-surplus state” in the long term.

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