The chief minister (CM) of Gujarat Vijay Rupani has approved the 3rd edition of his government’s ‘Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan’ (SSJA), a conservation plan to deepen water bodies in the state before monsoon. The scheme will continue till June 10, 2020 with a focus on deepening of lakes, check dams and rivers by removing silt. It will be done with people’s participation as well as under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
- As the scheme has approved during lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak, it will adhere to the lockdown protocol social distancing. Also,local authorities provide masks and sanitizers to the workers.
- The scheme will also create employment opportunities for the rural population amid the lockdown.
- It should be noted that soil excavated during the drive will be given free of cost to farmers.
About SSJA:
The scheme was started in 2018 after a weak monsoon, the CM of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, to transform Gujarat from a water-deficit state to a water-surplus one. Till date, the state’s water storage capacity has increased by 23,000 lakh cubic feet due to deepening of lakes, check-dams, rivers and reservoirs. Also, de-silted soil is used for farming.
About Gujarat:
State Animal– Asiatic lion
State Bird– Greater flamingo
State Flower– Marigold
State Tree– Banyan (Ficus benghalensis)
