Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, 18 June 2026 chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar to assess the state's preparedness against the potential challenges of El Niño and to finalise advance contingency plans covering drinking water, agriculture, and livestock.

Context

Posting in Gujarati on X, CM Patel said the protection of Gujarat na nagrikо, khedutо ane pashudhан (Gujarat's citizens, farmers, and livestock) is the government's highest priority. The meeting reviewed multiple sectors simultaneously — water supply, crop planning, and fodder stocks — signalling a whole-of-government approach ahead of the 2026 kharif season.

The chief minister noted that historical data should temper alarm: in 2006 and 2023, Gujarat received 117 per cent of normal rainfall even during intense El Niño years. He urged citizens and farmers not to panic or be misled by rumours, stating that the administration is fully prepared to handle every situation.

Policy Backdrop

A key decision announced at the meeting is the expansion of the Narmada pipeline lake-filling radius from 3 km to 7 km, allowing a significantly wider network of water bodies to be topped up using Narmada waters. Under the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana, directives have been issued to urgently fill more than 300 lakes in North Gujarat and various dams in Saurashtra with Narmada water before the monsoon arrives.

On the agriculture front, the government stated that adequate seed and fertiliser stocks are in place for Kharif 2026. A dedicated Aakasмik Pak Ayojan (Contingency Crop Plan) has been prepared to guide farmers, and the AI-based Krishi Pragati Portal is delivering live weather updates and crop advisories directly to the mobiles of more than 50 lakh farmers.

The Sujalam Sufalam Yojana has been a cornerstone of Gujarat's inter-basin water management since the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada became fully operational, enabling large-scale seasonal transfers to water-scarce regions of North Gujarat and Saurashtra.

Stakeholders and Impact

Farmers across North Gujarat and Saurashtra — regions historically vulnerable to rainfall deficits — stand to benefit most immediately from the expanded lake-filling directive. Livestock owners across the state have been assured that existing fodder buffer stocks are sufficient for up to two years, reducing the risk of distress sales or migration of cattle during a potential dry spell.

The Revenue Department has been instructed to maintain 24-hour surveillance of the ground situation, creating a real-time feedback loop between district administrations and the state government. The Krishi Pragati Portal's direct-to-mobile advisory system is intended to cut through misinformation and give farmers science-based guidance on crop choices if rainfall proves erratic.

What's Next

The immediate focus will be on executing the lake-filling targets under Sujalam Sufalam before the onset of the southwest monsoon, with the expanded 7-km pipeline radius serving as the operational benchmark. The Revenue Department's round-the-clock monitoring cell will be the key early-warning mechanism if conditions deteriorate. Farmers and officials alike will watch whether the Krishi Pragati Portal can sustain real-time advisory coverage across its stated base of over 50 lakh registered users through the critical June-September window.