Jetpur: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today said the government will launch the works for Rs 600 crore desalination plant in Saurashtra region next month.

Rupani said the new desalination plant will come up in Maliya area of coastal Saurashtra.

He said tender process has been over for the project and technical bids are also over. Price bid process is scheduled to take place next week while bhoomi pujan for the project will take place next month.

Rupani said the capacity of proposed plant, first of its kind by the State government will be 100 mld or 10 crore litre.

The plant will convert sea water into potable one for supply to Kutch and Saurashtra, he said.

Rupani said such plants are very successful in middle east countries. If the first such plant proves successful in Saurashtra, more such plants will be set up here in future.

It should be mentioned here that the Gujarat government has made Rs 10 crore provision in this year’s budget for desalination plant on pilot basis in public private partnership mode for 100 MLD that will partially ensure water security for Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Kutch districts.

Rupani was in Jetpur to dedicate Rs 597 crore Navda – Upleta bulk pipeline which is going to supply Narmada water to over 100 villages and 15 towns of Rajkot district. The bulk pipeline project will ensure water supply to 30 villages of Jetpur taluka, 47 villages of Jamkandorna taluka, 30 villages of Dhoraji taluka and 49 villages of Upleta taluka – in total 156 villages and Jetpur, Dhoraji, Upleta, Jamkandorna and Bhayavadar – in total 5 towns. The entire Rajkot district will get Narmada water connectivity with this. And that’s not the end. The Chief Minister also made announcement to link Porbandar district to this network in order to ensure Narmada water supply to Kutiyana and Ranavav.

Minister of State Jayesh Radadia said he was happy that the works for Navda – Upleta pipeline could be completed within 11 months period.

DeshGujarat