Gandhinagar/Vadodara, March 14 – The construction of a dam across the Mahi River in the village of Poicha, in the Vadodara district, at an estimated cost of ₹349 crore, is currently underway. It is expected to provide irrigation benefits to nearly 29,000 acres of land, the state government informed the Assembly on Saturday.
Responding to a question raised by a legislator in the House, Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Ishwarsinh Patel said the project is part of a series of water conservation initiatives being undertaken by the state government to expand irrigation coverage and improve groundwater availability.
Patel said the works are being implemented as part of a broader effort by the government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to strengthen water storage infrastructure and increase the irrigation potential across the state.
"With the construction of this dam, approximately 29,000 acres of land in the surrounding areas will benefit from irrigation, and the groundwater level in the region will rise," the minister said.
He said the proposed dam will have a length of 67 metres and a height of 11 metres. Once completed, it will allow water to be stored for a stretch of up to 14 kilometres upstream of the structure.
According to the minister, the storage created by the dam is expected to contribute to the recharge of groundwater and support irrigation needs in the surrounding region.
The benefits are expected to extend to parts of Vadodara, Kheda, and Anand districts.
The project aims to improve water availability for agriculture in the area and strengthen water management infrastructure along the Mahi River.
The government said the structure will help store water during periods of adequate flow, which can support irrigation and groundwater recharge in nearby areas.
Officials said such water conservation structures play a role in addressing seasonal water shortages and supporting agricultural activities in regions dependent on groundwater and canal irrigation systems.
The Poicha dam project is among the measures being taken to augment water resources and stabilise irrigation in central Gujarat.