SAUNI Yojana Deployed For Emergency Water Supply In Saurashtra Region
Source:aninews ↗
Why It Matters
The article highlights the functional utility of Gujarat's massive SAUNI Yojana in correcting regional water imbalances during droughts. It is critical for GPSC aspirants to understand how intra-state water grids, reservoir link lines (like Link-1), and water resource priority frameworks (drinking vs. irrigation) are utilized in crisis management.
Summary
The Gujarat government, led by CM Bhupendra Patel, has authorized the emergency diversion of water from the Machhu-2 reservoir to the rainfall-deficient districts of Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar. Drawing 600 cusecs of water through SAUNI Link-1 of the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana, the state government aims to address depleted local reservoir capacities. High priority is designated to meet drinking water needs, with the surplus allocated to local agricultural and irrigation requirements.
Key Points
- The Gujarat Government approved water supply from the Machhu-2 reservoir to Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts to address a severe rainfall deficit in the Saurashtra region.
- While regional requirements are normally fulfilled via local dams, insufficient rainfall has depleted local water storage, prompting the state to intervene.
- The water diversion is being executed by leveraging the pipeline network of the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana.
- Around 600 cusecs of water is currently being drawn through the SAUNI Link-1 pipeline system from the Machhu-2 reservoir.
- According to state priorities, the secured water will first fulfill drinking water requirements, with any remaining supply diverted for agricultural and irrigation uses.
Important Terms
Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation Yojana
A major water infrastructure project in Gujarat designed to divert excess floodwaters of the Narmada River from Sardar Sarovar Dam to fill 115 reservoirs across parched Saurashtra via underground pipelines.
UPSC context
GPSC GS-1 (Geography of Gujarat) & GS-3 (Government Schemes and Water Infrastructure).
SAUNI Link-1
A key pipeline of SAUNI Yojana carrying up to 1,200 cusecs from Machhu-II dam (Morbi) to Sani Dam (Jamnagar), benefitting around 30 reservoirs across Rajkot, Morbi, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar.
UPSC context
GPSC GS-1 (Geography of Gujarat, Water Resources) & GS-3 (State Infrastructure).
Machhu-2 Reservoir
An earthfill dam on the Machhu River in Morbi, Gujarat, built for irrigation and water supply. It is historically significant for its 1979 failure and serves as the starting point of SAUNI Link-1.
UPSC context
GPSC GS-1 (Geography of Gujarat) and GS-3 (Disaster Management).
Water Resources and Water Supply Department, Gujarat
The state department responsible for managing surface and groundwater resources, planning and executing major irrigation schemes (like SAUNI), and addressing state-wide drinking water and agrarian needs.
UPSC context
GPSC GS-3 (Governance, State Administration, and Developmental Policies).
Prelims Trap
Machchhu is a west-flowing river of Saurashtra that empties directly into the Arabian Sea or the Gulf of Kutch.
Machchhu is an inland (endorheic) river flowing northwards to empty into the mudflats of the Little Rann of Kutch, never reaching the open ocean.
Static Concepts Connected
What characterizes the radial drainage pattern of Saurashtra's river system?
- Central Origin: Rivers originate from the central highlands (Mandav and Jasdan hills) and flow outwards in all directions, creating a distinct radial pattern.
- Inland Drainage: North-flowing rivers like Machchhu, Demai, and Bambhan are endorheic, discharging into the saline mudflats of the Little Rann of Kutch.
- Seaward Outflows: Major rivers like Bhadar and Shetrunji flow west and east respectively, emptying into the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Khambhat.
What is the structural framework of the SAUNI Yojana?
- Water Source: Diverts 1 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of excess spilling floodwaters from the Narmada River (Sardar Sarovar Dam canal network).
- Conduit Design: Replaces traditional open canals with massive pressurized underground pipelines to prevent evaporation losses and bypass land-acquisition conflicts.
- Target Network: Recharges 115 existing reservoirs across 11 drought-prone districts of Saurashtra through four distinct pipeline routes (Links I-IV).
Cross-Topic Patterns
Water grids + Saurashtra agrarian economy
Connecting Narmada surplus to Saurashtra dams via SAUNI ensures stable cash-crop (cotton, groundnut) yields, directly boosting Gujarat's rural GDP and mitigating migration.
River diversion + Wetland ecology
Upstream storage on endorheic rivers like Machchhu alters freshwater-saline dynamics in the Little Rann of Kutch, affecting the sensitive Wild Ass Sanctuary habitat.
SAUNI pipeline links mapped to target reservoirs and endorheic river origins are highly likely in Gujarat Geography match-the-following.
Linked PYQs · 2
Linked PYQs · 2
- 2026GPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Consider the following pairs of mineral resources and their prominent mining districts/regions in Gujarat: Mineral - Associated Region 1. Bauxite - Devbhumi Dwarka 2. Lignite - Panandhro (Kutch) 3. Limestone - Porbandar 4. Chalk (Porbandar Stone) - Junagadh Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- 2025GPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following islands in Gujarat is in the shape of a conch (Shankh)?
