As a part of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd’s (SSNNL) drive to complete the Narmada Canal Network at the earliest, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones for three works of Narmada canal network costing Rs. 711 crore at Radhanpur on May 21, 2001 at 8 am. These works include one work for Kutch Branch Canal (KBC) passing through Patan district costing Rs. 251 crore, one work for distributaries under KBC costing Rs. 224 crore and another work for distributaries under Radhanpur Branch Canal costing Rs. 236 crore.

After gaining approval for the revised estimate of Rs. 39,240 crore from the Planning Commission of India last year, SSNNL is leaving no stone unturned to ensure speedy completion of the entire project, mainly canal network in North Gujarat, Saurashtra & Kutch. In April alone, it has commenced branch canal works worth Rs. 1,933 crore, which includes various works for Kutch, Morbi & Limbdi Branch Canals.

Gujarat Revenue, Road & Building Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel; Health & Family Welfare Minister Shri Jaynarayan Vyas; Minister for State – Water Supply, Health & Family Welfare Shri Parbatbhai Patel; SSNNL Chairman Shri D. Rajagopalan and SSNNL Managing Director Shri S. Jagadeesan will also remain present at the inaugural function at Radhanpur.

The proposed length of Radhanpur Branch Canal is 25 km and its carrying capacity at the beginning & at the end is 40 cusecs & 5 cusecs 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.

The total length of the five branch canals passing through Patan district is 179.58 km and on completion, 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.

The total estimated cost of remaining works under the Nramda canal network in Patan district is Rs. 1,194 crore, out of which works costing Rs. 1009 crore are already under progress, while works 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.