Botad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation (SAUNI) Link-2 project’s 52-km long Phase-1 completed at a cost of Rs.1,500-crore, and performed the groundbreaking ceremony of 74-km long Phase-2 worth Rs.1,695-crore at a function at the Botad district town in the Saurashtra region.

The phase-1 and phase-2 of the SAUNI Link-2 pipeline project, totaling Rs.3,200-crore is scheduled to fill up nine tanks/reservoirs in as many talukas in three districts (five in Bhavnagar, three in Botad and one in Surendranagar), to benefit 190 villages and irrigate 1.26-lakh acres.

He was speaking at a largely attended function at Botad to mark filling up Botad’s Krishna Sagar Lake with the Narmada waters through the Project. The public marked the event by simultaneously lighting up their mobile phone sets, chanting slogans like ‘Narmada Sarvade’, meaning the Narmada everywhere.

The lake spread over 130 hectares was built by erstwhile Bhavnagar prince Krishnakumarji but lately used to dry up in the summer months. With the completion of the SAUNI Link-2 Project the lake will be filled up with the Narmada waters. The project will solve the drinking water problem of about 1.13 lakh population of Botad town.

Mr. Modi said the Saurashtra region has land but not enough water. However, he said, optimum use of every drop of water drawn from the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) dam on the Narmada River 400km away through the SAUNI project would usher in peace and prosperity in the region.

He said that when the erstwhile Jana Sangh won the Botad municipality in 1967, the then Party President Deen Dayal Upadhyay had visited the town. This year happens to be the birth centenary of the leader known for job for every hand and water for every farm.

Mr. Modi said he didn’t get the opportunity of fighting for India’s freedom but committed to build a New India by the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022 through a series of steps like optimum use of water, fertilizer, maximum use of technology like Bhim app, with an incentive of Rs.25 to businessmen for every three transactions.

Gujarat’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani that drought used to hit Gujarat every fourth year, which has been largely erased through long-term water management projects like Narmada canal and pipeline network.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Purushottam Rupala that 119 dams which used to dry up in summer are now being filled up with the surplus Narmada waters which used to go down the sea during the monsoon. He said it was Mr. Modi’s first visit to Gujarat after grand victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Others who spoke on the occasion included BJP Gujarat President Jitubhai Vaghani, Water Resources Minister Nanubhai Vanani. A documentary on SAUNI was presented at the function

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, Ministers Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Chimanbhai Sapariya, Atmaram Parmar, Jayesh Radadiya, Jashabhai Barad, V.V. Vaghasia, MPs, MLAs, senior officers of Irrigation Department and Statutory Boards and Corporations and the District.

After the function was over, the Prime Minister returned to the Capital from the nearest Bhavnagar airport. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Bhavnagar Mayor Nimuben Bambhania, Us-based Sonaliben Makrand Desai, Collector Harshadbhai Patel and SP Dipankar Trivedi saw him off.

– Information