Hope of farmers from Patan & Banaskantha districts of Gujarat to irrigate their fields with Narmada water today got a major booster, when Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid foundation stones for three major works under Narmada Canal network costing Rs. 711 crore at Radhanpur. These works include work for Kutch Branch Canal (KBC) passing through Patan district costing Rs. 251 crore, work for distributaries under KBC costing Rs. 224 crore ; and another work for distributaries under Radhanpur Branch Canal costing Rs. 236 crore.

While addressing a function after the stone-laying ceremony, Shri Narendra Modi said, “Some years ago, size of Gujarat’s annual budget used to be around Rs. 6000 crore. Now the state government is going to spend an amount more than this figure in the current year for Narmada Project alone, to secure better future for the farmers. For the government, development is the only mantra.”

Urging the central government to accord approval for raising the height of the Narmada Dam up to 138.60 meter, he said that without this happening, it would not be possible to ensure flow of Narmada water with full force to bordering districts like Banaskantha & Patan.

Earlier in his welcome address, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) Chairman Shri D. Rajagopalan said, “SSNNL is committed to complete the entire Narmada canal network in the state at the earliest. To take on this task, we have commenced various branch canal works worth Rs. 1,933 crore in April alone, which includes works for Kutch, Morbi & Limbdi Branch Canals. Now, we have commenced these three major works costing Rs. 711 crore to extend planned irrigational benefits to the districts of Patan & Banaskantha.”

On the sidelines of the event, SSNNL Managing Director Shri S. Jagadeesan said, “The total estimated cost of remaining works under the Narmada canal network in Patan district is Rs. 1,194 crore, out of which works costing Rs. 1,009 crore are already under progress, while contracts worth Rs. 185 crore are under various stages of finalization. Stipulated timeframe for all of this works ranges from 18 months to 24 months and SSNNL is committed to complete all the works in timely manner.”

“The proposed length of Radhanpur Branch Canal is 25 km and its carrying capacity at the beginning & at the end is 40 cumecs & 5 cumecs respectively. In Patan district, it will extend irrigational benefits to 48,324 hectares of land in 86 villages, while in Banaskantha district, it will cover 11,623 hectares of land in 26 villages. The total coverage through this branch canal will be 59,947 hectares,” he added.

It is worthwhile to mention that total length of the five branch canals passing through Patan district is 179.58 km and on completion of the entire network, they will create irrigation potential in 2,01,525 hectares of land in the district. Work for a length of 131.92 km has already been completed.

Gujarat Revenue, Road & Building Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel; Health & Family Welfare Minister Shri Jaynarayan Vyas and Minister for State – Water Supply, Health & Family Welfare Shri Parbatbhai Patel were also present at the function.