Surat : Kakrapar Right Bank Canal Closure Threatens Rs.200 Cr Crop Loss

Surat | Gujarat — The Gujarat government’s decision to keep the Kakrapar Right Bank Canal closed for 90 days has sparked outrage among farmers in South Gujarat, with farmer leader Jayesh Patel alias Jayesh Delad warning of massive losses to sugarcane and paddy crops in Surat and Bharuch districts.

Delad, who is also the President of Olpad Choryasi Taluka Purchase and Sale Association and Director of South Gujarat Cooperative Cotton Union, has termed the move “suicidal” for farmers. He has made a strong representation to Water Supply and Water Resources Minister Kunwarji Bavaliya, urging the government to reduce the closure period from 90 days to 60 days or postpone the work until after the monsoon.

“Lifeline of South Gujarat Farmers”

“The Kakrapar Right Bank Canal Project is like a lifeline for the farmers of South Gujarat,” said Delad. “Closing it for 90 days will devastate 80,000 acres of sugarcane and 60,000 acres of summer paddy. The production per acre will drop drastically, and sugar cooperative societies will face severe shortages, reducing farmers’ income and destabilizing the rural economy.”

The canal renovation work, aimed at increasing its capacity, is planned at a location 53 km downstream from Kakrapar. While officials estimate it will take 90 days, Delad insists the project can be completed within 60 days if handled by experienced civil agencies.

“In today’s era of advanced technology, such civil works can be finished faster. A quick decision is needed to prevent colossal agricultural losses,” he said, demanding an Irrigation Advisory Committee meeting to hear farmers’ voices before finalizing the plan.

Massive Crop and Economic Losses Loom

The potential fallout is staggering. In the fertile belt under the canal command area, farmers produce:

80,000 acres of sugarcane, critical for local sugar cooperative societies.

60,000 acres of summer paddy, a staple crop in South Gujarat.

Delad highlighted that in Mangrol, Olpad, and Hansot talukas, small farmers cultivate 25 lakh tons of summer paddy in saline lands, valued at over ₹200 crore.

“If the canal remains shut for 90 days, this entire crop will fail. Farmers will be left in debt, and cooperatives that depend on their produce will also collapse under financial strain,” Delad warned.

Farmers Call for Urgent Action

The farmer leader has appealed to the Gujarat government to intervene immediately. He suggested that the canal closure, if unavoidable, should be limited to December 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026, a period less damaging for crops.

“This is not just about farmers—it is about safeguarding the rural economy of South Gujarat. The government must act in the farmers’ best interest before it is too late,” he said.