Madhavpur Porbandar District News Samachar Gujarat India

Water conservation proves boon for salinity-affected Madhavpur town. Water conservation in the abandoned mines in and around Madhavpur town of Porbandar district has proved to be a boon for the salinity-affected coastal belt.

The water table has risen to a considerable extent in the five kilometer radius around the mines, providing round the clock irrigation facilities for hundreds of hectares of agricultural land.

Naginbhai Popat, a social worker associated with a local NGO said: “The state government has constructed a 340-meter long interconnecting channel joining a numbers of mines.

At present, water has accumulated in all the mines in the area.” Popat said Madhavpur received some 52 inch rainfall during this monsoon.

“Approximately, some 200 lakh gallons of water has been stored in these mines,” he added. Some 80 abandoned mines are located in Nilkanth, Chamunda and Pudhar areas on the outskirts of Madhavpur town.

Popat added: “Water conservation was started three years ago.

Earlier, the area was facing problem of salinity ingress, but after water conservation in the mines, the area is becoming free from salinity ingress and some 314 hectares are getting 24 hour irrigation facility.”

Porbandar Junagadh District President Pratibha Patil Saurashtra Visit News Gujarat India

President visits Bapu's birthplace in Porbandar City.

President Pratibha Patil paid homage to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at his birthplace, Kirti Mandir, in Porbandar on Friday. The governor, chief minister Narendra Modi, state ministers, Porbandar MP Vithal Radadiya, Porbandar MLA Arjun Modhvadiya and other diginitaries, who accompanied the President, also paid homage to Gandhiji on his 140th birth anniversary.

The President arrived at Porbandar at 9.10 am and directly went to Kirti Mandir to participate in an all-religion prayer.

She was welcomed by girls there. In a reciprocal gesture, she applied tilak on the girls' forehead. It was for the first time in the history of Kirti Mandir that a President participated in the all-religion prayer.

President Patil paid homage to Gandhiji with a garland of cotton thread. Thereafter, she sang Gandhiji's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav jan to...' along with all the dignitaries.

"It was a great moment and experience to visit the place where Gandhiji was born and (later) sacrificed his life to make India independent from British rule," she wrote in the visitors'book. Greeting people on this occasion, she said, "This is an occasion for all of us to reflect on the life and work of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi."

"Whenever I remember Bapu, particularly on this day, I am overwhelmed by his leadership, philosophy and values. His leadership inspired millions to unite for the cause of independence," she added.

"He also taught us to shed fear, to understand the importance of truth and to work for the eradication of poverty, illiteracy and discrimination," Patil said. The President also visited the birth place and memorial of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of the Mahatma and leading woman freedom fighter.

To facilitate the visit of the President and other VIPs to Kirti Mandir and Kasturba Memorial, the entry of general visitors was restricted. The local administration also restricted traffic before president's arrival and departure. The shops near Kirti Mandir were asked to remain closed till the President's visit.

The President also visited Arya Kanya Girls Gurukul in Porbandar, where girls welcomed her and presented her an oil painting of Kirti Mandir. She also watched the girls present traditional dances and sing the national anthem. Patil also offered puja at the historical Lord Krishna temple at Dwarka in Jamnagar district on Friday morning.

"The President offered puja and had 'darshan' at the Dwarkadhish temple. She took a round of the entire temple area," said Dwarkadhish Temple board vice-chairman and Rajya Sabha member, Parimal Nathwani.

Subsequently, the President held a meeting with the temple board and district authorities regarding development of the temple and the town. "She asked the authorities to create infrastructural facilities at the temple and in Dwarka town for tourists," said Minister Saurabh Patel.

In afternoon, she reached Junagadh and watched world-famous Asiatic lions in the Gir forest and in night she watched Junagadh's Siddi tribe's traditional dance.

Junagadh PGVCL Saurashtra District News Samachar

Saurashtra farmers agitate for power. Farmers of Porbandar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Bhavnagar are on the warpath against Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL). Farmers of Porbandar district staged a dharna outside PGVCL office in the city on Wednesday. Water has become vital to save crops across Saurashtra and for those 12 hours of electricity a day is a must.

But, PGVCL has not been providing electricity as promised to farmers in the region. Farmers are alleging that despite availability of water, as power is not supplied their crops are getting ruined. They have threatened to intensify their stir if 12-hour electricity supply is not restored immediately. Similarly, farmers of Keshod, Lodhika, Rajula, Khambhalia and Tankara too presented a memorandum to authorities to regularize power supply.

Bharatiya Kishan Sangh officials also went to PGVCL office in Junagadh and demanded 12-hour power supply. Says Sangh president in Junagadh Vithal Dhudhatra, "PGVCL has been irregular in supplying power. Tripping has become a regular phenomenon and has resulted in wastage of water. Crops are not getting required amount of water because of power shortage."

Citing reasons for tripping, a PGVCL official said: "Electricity theft is rampant and is causing this problem. But, we are working to solve the problem.

But, on 12-hour supply, we have orders from Gandhinagar. What can we do?" "If this is government policy, we have no option but to start an agitation. We are facing a situation where our crops are getting ruined and we can't afford that," said Dhudhatra.

Junagadh District Saurastra Monsoon Samachar

Dams in Saurastra, Kutch dry up Dams across Saurastra and Kutch are drying up fast with rains getting delayed.

The first week of July has passed but most dams in the region are empty as there is no inflow of rain water. According to government sources, on an average there is only 11.17 per cent water stored in 131 schemes across the Saurastra.

In Kutch district, there are 20 schemes in all, which have an average 4.72 per cent water of total capacity.

"Absence of inflow of fresh water in all these dams is a major concern. Apart from coastal villages, major parts of Saurastra and Kutch are yet to get good rain," said a government official. "31 dams in Rajkot district are only 7.3 per cent full. If there is no fresh influx, coming days will be worse for people, as the city is already facing drinking water crisis," he added.

The delayed rain has affected pre-monsoon crops and forced farmers to go for other crops. According to Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority's official data, as on July 7, Surendranagar District received 9.86 per cent of its total annual rainfall, Bhavnagar and Kutch districts have got 10.47 per cent and 13.20 per cent respectively.

Porbandar and Junagadh districts were comparatively better off having received 43.96 and 29.44 per cent of their annual rainfall respectively.