Gujarat CM lays stone of Rs.309-crore Sagbara-Dediapara Group Water Supply Scheme

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today said that his government is marching ahead with comprehensive welfare schemes for the poor, oppressed and exploited people, particularly those living in the state’s remote areas.

Speaking at a function at Janki Ashram to mark groundbreaking ceremony of the Rs.309-crore Sagbara-Dediapara Group Water Supply Scheme in the state’s eastern forested belt, he said that his government is committed to check outbreak of epidemics due to lack of potable water. He regretted that despite good rainfall the state’s hilly regions continued to reel under water shortage for want of efficient water conservation schemes during the Congress rule. The government plans to free the hilly areas from the hardship of hand pumps.

He said the government’s effort will be providing tap water to the people at their homes, implementing Vanbandhu schemes under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, opening Eklavya residential schools and the nation’s first-of-its-kind Birsa Munda Tribal University for the uplift of the tribal people.

Mr. Rupani listed the wide range of government schemes for the healthcare like Dhanwantari Rath, affordable medicines, increasing the income limit under Ma Amritam and Ma Vatsalya Card from Rs.1.20-lakh to Rs.1.50-lakh, providing nutritious full meals in ten rupees under Annapurna Yojna. Nearly 35.74-lakhs facilities were provided to people under Seva Setu Programme at their doorstep in Phase-1 and 1.15-lakh on the first day of Phase-2.

He said that as many as 24 Bills were passed in the just concluded State Assembly session, including making prohibition, cow slaughter laws stricter.

The Chief Minister distributed documents under Van Adhikar Act and other schemes to beneficiaries, dedicated five stretches of road costing Rs.3.81-crore in Narmada district, Narmada Vahini bike ambulance, Sangath mobile application.

The students of Sanskar Vidyalaya presented prayer in the Bharatnatyam dance form. A number of social organizations felicitated the Chief Minister. Dharikheda Sugar Factory Chairman Ghanshyam Patel presented a cheque of Rs.5-lakh. The State Water Supply and Police Departments screened documentary films.

Water Supply Minister Babubhai Bokhiria said that Rs.3,000-crore has been allotted in the state’s total budget of Rs.172,000-crore budget this financial year. Local MLA Motibhai Vasava also praised the government’s efforts to solve people’s problems at panchayat level, for which they had to go to secretariat earlier.

Principal Secretary Mukesh Puri in his welcome address said the Sagbara-Dediapara Scheme would supply water to 216 villages.

Those present on the occasion included Minister of State for Water Supply Jashubhai Barad, Minister of State for Forest and Tribal Welfare Shabdasharan Tadvi, BJP District President Ghnashyam Desai, Vadodara Range DIG Malik, Collector K.M. Bhimjiani, DDO Ranjit Kumar Singh, Water Supply Board Director Anis Mankad and Member-Secretary Dholakia.

– Information