Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress today called a press conference in which state party president Bharatsinh Solanki and national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil attacked the State government for not completing canal network of Narmada project. Gohil in his address to the press said foundation stone of Narmada project was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961 but due to environment issues the project couldn’t not progress and finally environment clearance was granted by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in spite of negative note by then official TN Shesan. The forest land was also transferred during Congress rule to make a way for Narmada project. Gohil said, the Congress governments in power till 1995 contributed greatly to Narmada dam construction in 7-year span against 22-year rule of BJP governments during which ‘vertical canal networks’ couldn’t be built. Gohil claimed he had Narmada Control Authority minutes in which Madhya Pradesh(BJP ruled) was found responsible for delay. Gohil said Prime Minister is not even member of NCA and therefore the claims that PM gave nod to Narmada dam height was wrong. Gohil said there was in fact no need to raise the height of the dam as Gujarat was already getting 9 lakh acre ft water of its share. The increase of height would only generate more power which would benefit other partner States. He said, due to lack of full length of canal network, added water is not going to reach farmers. Gohil also alleged corruption in canal network construction claiming that it was mentioned in Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) report. He also questioned why government has denotified a portion of earlier planned canal network. Gohil said he would announce more details on this tomorrow. It should be mentioned that day after tomorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate the completed Narmada dam at Kevadia Colony in Central Gujarat. Congress is building up its narrative prior to that by doing press conferences.

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