Modi takes a dig at PM’s statement on price rise

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on monsoon related price rise.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement yesterday saying since there is deficit in rainfall, prices will shoot up in the country,” Modi said at the inauguration of a pipe manufacturing factory commissioned by Doshion Ltd, near Sanand, 35 km from here.

“I was little surprised at the statement of the Prime Minister, who is very learned person, is an economist and also experienced since he has been elected twice as PM. However, I believe he should have said with strong ditermination that by proper water resources management, we would not let the drought affect our agriculture and the nation,” he said.

“I request PM to take a lead in the water harvesting, conservation and interlinking of rivers so that parched areas can be brought under irrigation. We can surely convert a problem into an opportunity” he said.

“The country wants PM to take the interlinking of all major rivers project forward so that excess water of one river can be taken in the water deficit areas,” Modi said.

According to Modi, Gujarat has shown what benefits can be derived from water harvesting, conservation and interlinking of rivers. “We have Narmada’s water in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati river. Due to this river linking effort, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation saved Rs 16 crore electricity bill in a year and ground water level also improved alongwith TDS level one tenth down.”

“If we can bring southern Gujarat’s Daman area water to Sabarmati, it is then not much difficult to take this water from Ahmedabad to far flung areas like Somnath, Veraval or Chotila.”