Ahmedabad: On his arrival at Ahmdabad airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on two-day visit to Gujarat said all governments in Gujarat have worked for Narmada project. Modi said Gujarat will be on journey from Siddhi(achievement) to Smriddhi(prosperity) post completion of Narmada dam.

“When I was arriving here, someone put columnist Jay Vasavada’s article in my hand and there were two words at the end of that article: Namo Narmada, Sukhi Sarvada. The issue of  water has always been a challenging part in Gujarat’s journey of progress. When I was Chief Minister I would go to various meetings of the central government and discuss the issue of water. Gujarat spends huge amount for water. Many development works don’t get deserving importance because we spend huge for water. Centre would not understand the size of the efforts we employ for water in the past. The people of Gujarat understand the importance of water very well.”

“All governments in Gujarat always worried about Narmada project. There was no party politics in this, which is good. All governments did efforts for Narmada project and tried to bring result. There were obstructions and problems but now we have achieved the peak.”

“Most of the human power, government’s strength and economic resources were spent for water for years and years here in Gujarat. Now this strength will add to various aspects of development of the State. And therefore Narmada is a big achievement. A decade after Narmada is the decade of journey from Siddhi to Samriddhi for Gujarat. I am sure that under the leadership of BJP, Gujarat will achieve new heights, and the achievement of completion of Narmada dam will be in root of that. It will be a new subject to analyze for economists.”

“When the Supreme Court delivered a very good judgement, we were relieved from many problems. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have BJP governments. They too understood the feelings of Gujarat. I congratulate the Chief Ministers and people of both states.”

“When the process was over and the government took decisions through empowered committees, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister went to the dam for closure of gates. The Chief Minister called me and told that Jawaharlal Nehru laid foundation stone for this project and you should come and mark its completion as the long journey is over. I have replied positively and my office will soon fix a date for opening of the gates of Gujarat’s prosperity”.- DeshGujarat

Releaes by Information department

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was accorded a warm welcome at the airport here today on a two-day visit to Gujarat, has celebrating the advent of the Narmada waters in the Rajkot city and nearby villages later in the evening as one of the main agenda.

He is scheduled to visit Rajkot, Gandhinagar and Arravali during his two-day stay.

Governor O.P. Kohli and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani welcomed Mr. Modi at the airport, followed by State Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, Protocol Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Ministers, Ahmedabad Mayor Gautam Shah, Chief Secretary J.N. Singh, Ahmedabad Collector Avantika Singh, Police Commissioner A.K. Singh and others.

Addressing a large crowd amidst chanting of slogans like ‘Narmade Sarvade’ (meaning Narmada everywhere) at the airport, Mr. Modi said that Gujarat understands the worth of water the hard way. Quoting a famous quote ‘Namo Narmada Sukhi Sarvada’, he said that water held a very significant role in Gujarat’s march to the development.

He recalled that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had laid the foundation stone of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) dam on the Narmada at Kevadia colony near Madhya Pradesh border. Subsequently, successive governments of Gujarat, as well as that of the partner states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, were alive and worked for early completion of the SSP. He said the formal inaugural of the radial gates in the dam would usher in decades of prosperity for the people. He thanked them all for their sincere efforts.

The Prime Minister was presented with a memento of replica of the Narmada project.

Others present at the function included former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, BJP State President Jitubhai Vaghani, office-bearers and workers.