Rajkot, 17 February 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today morning laid foundation stone for ambitions SAUNI project through remote control in Rajkot. He addressed a big assembly of people from all over Saurasthra on this occasion.

Sharing the details of SAUNI project, Shri Modi said that the project once completed will supply water to Saurashtra region matching to seven Bhadar dams, four Shetrunjee dams, 45 Aaji dams in full capacity. Shri Modi said presently the Narmada dam stores only 40% water and we are seeing its benefits even in remote Kutch, imagine once we install gates over Narmada dam to achieve 100% capacity of storage. Modi slammed center for delaying permission to install gates over Narmada dam.

Modi said the state government has focused on three things for development of agriculture in state. One – Agri infrastructure that includes betterment of wells, new pipeline network, irrigation facilities and canals. Two – Agri tech which involves agri education, human resources efforts and agri fair for global exposure of latest agri trends. Three – Agri based industries for value addition, branding and entire chain.

Shri Modi asked farmers to adopt three practices; 1/3rd efforts for dairy activity, 1/3rd efforts for tree plantation on boundary of farms and 1/3rd efforts for traditional farming. Modi said on an average a farmer wastes around two meters boundary space of his farm. The total size of land wasted for boundary by two neighboring farms is 4 meter in many cases. Instead of wasting the land for boundary, farmers should plant trees that can be sold in future for timber. Presently India imports timber, but if tree plantation drive like Anand district is replicated elsewhere, farmers can organize wedding of their daughters by selling of timber. India can be self reliant through such practice when it comes to timber. Modi recalled how dairies in Saurashtra were shut down in past. He said his government not only reopened the old dairies but passed some orders to help new upcoming dairies. Modi said the government has ensured that payment by dairy should go to a woman member in family.

Modi in his speech said, he saw from helicopter how many farms have adopted green house technology. He said farmers still need to do lot more in the areas of drip irrigation, modernization in farming, productivity and value edition.

SAUNI will fill Narmada water in following dams:

Rajkot

Machhu-2, Machhu-3, Demi-2, Demi-1, Khodapipar, Bangavadi, Aaji-3, Machhu-1, Lalpari, Aaji-2, Nyari-2, Dondi ,Aaji-1, Venu-1, Venu-2, Nagvadar, Ghelo Somnath, Survo, Bhadar, Bhadar-2, Malgadh, Ankadia, Vinchhiya, Ganod, Aalansagar, Kanunki, Karmal, Ishwaria, Nyari-1

Junagadh district

Galath, Uben,,Uben-pickup vier Ozat-2,Ozat-2 vier (Shapar),Hiran-2,,Dhrafad,Meghal TR,Bhakharvad,Vrajmi,Ambajal,Champarda, Madhuvanti

Bhavnagar district

Kalubhar,Malpara,Randhola,Rajaval,Kharo,Shetrunji,Hanol,Bagad,Nikol Bandhara,Rojki,Malan,Malan TR,Goma,Bhimdad,Limbali

Amreli district

Santli,Sankroli,Ghelo Itaria,Dhari,Thebi,Vadi,Munjiyasar,Khodiar,Shel Dedumal,Dhatarvadi,Surajvadi,Dhatarvadi-2,Raydi

Surendranagar district

Wadhvan Bhogavo -1,Wadhvan Bhogavo -2,Limbdi Bhogavo -1,Morsal,Triveni-Thanga

Jamnagar district

Demi-3,Aaji-4,Ranjitsagar,Und-2,Balambha-bandhara,Kankavadi,Ruparel Bareja,Vijarkhi,Sapda,Vagadia,Rangmati,Sasoi,Puna,Fulzar-2,Ghi,Rupavati,Sinhan,Gadhki,Mahadevia,Sani,Hadiana Band Demara,Khiri TR,Bed Bandhara,Und-1,Und-2,Fulzar,Vodisang,Kabarka,Vartu-1,Vartu-2,Sonmati,Veradi-1,Veradi-2,Und-4,Fulzar KB

Porbandar district

Sorthi,Advana,Madhuvanti TR,Bhadar TR

Highlights

115 dams to be filled with water
10.23 lakh ha land in 11 districts to be irrigated
Total estimate of expenditure Rs. 10,861 crore
Narmada’s one million acre/ft additional water in Saurashtra
1126 km long four link zone pipe line to lift Narmada water