The diverting of water from the Indira Sagar Dam to the Sardar Sarovar Dam to facilitate tourism in the area, following the construction of the Statue of Unity, has aggravated the problems of farmers in Kutch.

Reportedly, the area around the Statue of Unity has been designated as a boating arena and the administration is diverting water from Sagar Dam to maintain a minimum level of water for the boats to ply on. Coupled with this, the Gujarat govt is also seeking to build a water aerodrome — for amphibious watercrafts and sea–planes to land on, thereby increasing the water requirement at the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Sardar Sarovar dam. On top of this a plan to build a ‘Water Aerodrome’ fro Modi’s pet Sea Plane project is being unveiled for tourism. This has angered farmers and all major farmer bodies have threatened statewide agitation in absence of Govt’s water provision in next few days. — TheAgeOfBananas (@iScrew) November 27, 2018

Farmers in Kutch have to bear the brunt of this induced shortage of water. The agitated farmers’ union has said that if the government does not take necessary steps soon, there would be state-wide protests.

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This shortage of water has reportedly led to huge protests across cities in the region. Aaj Tak reported that people in Bhuj, Abdasa, Nakhatrana, Lakhpat and Kandla have marched in protests holding aloft banners of ‘Narmada Lao, Kutch Bachao’ and bandhs have also been organised in the region.

The ugly reality of Gujarat where 3000 crore Statue is built but Narmada canals aren’t. Kutch is facing a horrible water crisis and people of Kutch launched agitation across the region demanding water. Major cities in Kutch remained shut with massive rallies across everywhere. pic.twitter.com/yfAn9IvpSS — TheAgeOfBananas (@iScrew) November 27, 2018

‘Narmada Lao, Kutch Bachao’ banners & placards adorned the rallies across Bhuj, Abdasa, Nakhatrana, Lakhpat & Kandla as Kutch is facing a famine and Govt is lying about providing water. Canals have not been built beyond Rapar. Both irrigation & drinking water crisis are dire now. — TheAgeOfBananas (@iScrew) November 27, 2018

Also Read: Statue Of Unity: Gujarat Police Arrests Tribals, Protestors Write ‘Narendra Modi Go Back’ in Blood