Illegal Sale of Soil by Contractors in Surat Jeopardizes Gujarat’s Water Revolution: Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan under Threat

Surat : The Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan is a significant initiative taken by the Gujarat Government to bring about a water revolution in the state. The scheme aims to rejuvenate water resources and ensure the availability of clean water to the people. Under the sixth phase of the program, the government has launched a mass movement across the state to achieve these objectives. However, it is disheartening to learn that some of the contractors awarded with soil excavation work in the villages of Olpad taluka are blatantly violating government norms and causing losses to the State exchequer.

It has come to light that a contract agency with political clout has managed to obtain the contract for soil excavation in several villages in Olpad taluka. Instead of carrying out the work in line with the government norms, the contractor is excavating a vast amount of soil from the villages  namely Kareli, Paria, Olpad, Sonakhadi, Lavacha, Pinjrat, Mor, Pardi Zankhri, Vadoli, Selut, Sarol, Kudiana, and Segwachama in Olpad taluka and selling it to private builders. This practice has caused losses worth crores of rupees to the state government’s exchequer.

The illegal excavation and sale of soil by the contractor are not only detrimental to the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan’s objectives but also to the environment. The uncontrolled soil excavation can lead to soil erosion and degradation, making it difficult for the vegetation to grow and harming the local biodiversity.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has stated that the works going on under the Sujalam Sufalam scheme have resulted in adequate availability of irrigation and drinking water to farmers and people. Not only that, excavation of soil provide large scale of daily employment, also results in the soil being used by farmers in their fields. Income is also generated by purchasing such soil for use in related development works.

Darshan Naik, general secretary of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has submitted a complaint to the Commissioner of Geology and Mining, Government of Gujarat for initiating a thorough investigation into the illegal activities going on in the Olpad taluka in the name of Sujalam Sufalam scheme. Naik has demanded that all the transport trucks should be fitted with GPS location trackers, trucks should not be allowed to ply during the night hours, forming a committee of local representatives in the villages etc. to curb the illegal selling of the excavated soil to the builders.

Moreover, selling the excavated soil to private builders may lead to the depletion of natural resources and further contribute to environmental degradation. The government should take strict action against the contractor and ensure that such violations do not occur in the future.

It is high time that the government takes a stern stance against such malpractices and ensures that the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan’s objectives are achieved. The initiative aims to transform the water scenario in Gujarat and create a sustainable future for the state. It is essential that all stakeholders involved in the scheme work in line with the government norms and contribute to its success.

The illegal sale of excavated soil by the contractor in Olpad taluka is a severe violation of government norms and detrimental to the environment. The government should take immediate action against such malpractices and ensure that the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan scheme’s objectives are not compromised. The success of the scheme depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders, and it is essential that they work towards achieving its objectives.