the Saurashtra-Kachchh region of Gujarat is facing a severe water crisis. The situation is particularly acute in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar and Amreli. Rajkot residents get water on alternate days for half an hour and a bucket costs anywhere between Rs 4 to Rs 10.
Villagers scour the countryside to tap drinking water sources. However, the water table has already fallen to 150-200 feet. To stave off the scarcity, pipelines are being laid on an emergency basis in Surendranagar district. This project will cost Rs 60 crore. Standing crops of groundnut and cotton on more than 400,000 hectares have been ruined in the district.
"In the Saurashtra region people fetch water from sources located around 15 km away from their homes. Irrigation water is supplied only for four hours, instead of promised 14 hours," says a local politician.
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