Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated and announced new projects in the Saurashtra region at a public rally at Jetpur Police Ground today.

He inaugurated the Rs.597-crore Navda-Upleta bulk pipeline project and announced the extension of the project from Upleta to Kutiyana and Ranavav at a cost of Rs.125-crore. He also performed the ground breaking ceremony for Rs.33-crore sewage treatment plant for Jetpur town.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the 171-km long express pipeline would serve about 10 lakh people in five towns and 156 villages in four talukas, including 10-crore litres daily supply to Jetpur and 11 villages in Amarnagar Group Water Supply Project – a matter of rejoice for the womenfolk of Jetpur and nearby places. The Botad-Gaddha pipeline carrying capacity has been increased by 12-crore litres and Navda pumping station’s capacity has been increased by 5-crore litres.

The Chief Minister on this occasion announced the foundation stone of Rs.600-crore desalination plant with 10-crore litres to be set up on an experimental basis at Maliya near the seacoast. The plant would provide drinking water to serve the region. He said that if the experiment succeeded it would be beneficial for the region.

He said the Narmada canal-based SAUNI project has made the perpetual water scarcity owing to scanty and unpredictable rainfall in the Saurashtra region a matter of history. SAUNI has so far filled up 17 dried-up dams and 40 ponds, and plans to fill up another seven dams and 60 ponds in due course.

The Chief Minister lauded the farsightedness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for according priority to the infrastructure projects when he became the Chief Minister. He gave importance to water, road and electricity alike. This has resulted in decline in incidence of waterborne diseases and kidney stones.

Water Supply Minister Jashabhai Barad, MP Vithalbhai Radadia, ex-Minister Jashuben Korat also spo0ke on the occasion.

Gujarat Water Supply Principal Secretary Mukesh Puri said the Navda-Upleta bulk pipeline project, drawing water from Narmada and local rivers would be subsequently extended up to Porbandar. He said that 77 per cent of water supply in the state is through taps. He recalled that Prime Minister had prepared a Rs.21,880-crore Drinking Water Master Plan for rural and urban areas of the state.

Prominent among those present included Water Supply Minister Babubhai Bokhiria, Civil Supply Minister Jayeshbhai Radadia, MLA Govindbhai Patel, BJP district president D.K. Sakhia, Jetpur nagarpalika head Jaysukhbhai Gujarati, Yatradham Vikas Board vice-chairman Rajubhai Dhruv and District Collector Vikrant Patel.

– Information