By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar, where Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi and senior officers were also present. Gujarat Chief Secretary M. K. Das welcomed the Union Home Minister and briefed him on ongoing developmental priorities and progress of major state projects.

A central focus of the meeting was the irrigation department’s ambitious reservoir interlinking initiative, aimed at boosting water management and ensuring long-term water security in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts. The irrigation department presented a detailed review of the interlinking of village ponds—a transformative project that seeks to create a connected water network across rural areas.

The state has identified 1,349 ponds across 162 villages in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts, which are being linked through coordinated efforts by the irrigation department, AUDA, GUDA, GMC, Narmada Nigam and several other government agencies. Officers were instructed to remove all obstacles, expedite the coverage of all ponds under the project, and ensure that deepening and interlinking work is completed before the monsoon.

By connecting ponds and reservoirs, empty water bodies during monsoon can be filled through nearby ponds or pipelines. This integrated system is expected to significantly enhance groundwater recharge, strengthen irrigation infrastructure, and improve availability of drinking water for communities and livestock.

The project reflects Gujarat’s forward-looking commitment to sustainable water management. With active participation from the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, senior officials, and guidance from Amit Shah, the initiative is set to become a milestone in enhancing the state’s rural water resilience and environmental sustainability.