Gujarat government approves Rs 581 crore Banas weir project
The fish-scale dam near Mahadeviya village aims to improve water availability and groundwater recharge for 100 villages in Banaskantha district.
The Gujarat state government has given in-principle approval for a Rs 581 crore fish-scale weir dam on the Banas river near Mahadeviya village in Banaskantha district, according to The Times of India.
The project is designed to boost groundwater levels and increase water availability for 70 villages in Deesa taluka and 30 villages in Kankrej taluka.
The proposed 500-metre wide structure will use seven stepped levels to hold surplus water from the Sipu and Dantiwada dams. An official statement issued on Tuesday said the reservoir will reach 2.72km upstream, supported by a 4,795-metre embankment on the northern bank.
Technical inputs for the fish-scale design were provided by IIT Roorkee after the government decided against building multiple smaller check dams due to the wide river bed.
The government intends to complete the project by 2029 and plans to develop tourism-related projects around the site during a second phase.