Amit Shah Inaugurates ‘Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar’ in Amreli

Amreli: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar’ in Amreli, Gujarat. The water body has been constructed by the Harikrishna Group and the Dholakia Foundation. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Addressing the event, Amit Shah said that according to the Matsya Purana, those who construct wells, stepwells and ponds earn great merit. He said that amid low rainfall in recent years, conserving every drop of rainwater and raising groundwater levels can help ensure that the country and the state never face drought.

He said the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar’, spread over 21 acres with a capacity of 400 million litres, will help ensure water availability for agriculture and drinking purposes, besides contributing to groundwater conservation.

Amit Shah said poet Kalapi had written a beautiful poem stating, “The destiny of the subjects mirrors the nature of the king.” He said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, water scarcity across Saurashtra and North Gujarat was swiftly addressed, and drought became a thing of the past.

Shah said that after Modi became Chief Minister and later Prime Minister, Gujarat had not faced any major drought until 2026. He said that this year, there were concerns that the state could face drought due to the impact of El Niño. However, the situation did not arise.

Shah said that after becoming Chief Minister, Modi had 1.5 lakh check dams constructed by 2003. He said the gates of the Narmada project, whose foundation was laid in 1964 by the then Prime Minister, were opened when Modi became Prime Minister. As a result, Narmada water reached Saurashtra, Kutch and Khavda.

He said that after water conservation efforts began, the SAUNI Yojana was launched, through which surplus water was channelled into the dams and rivers of Saurashtra. Narmada water is also being stored in around 10,000 ponds in North and Central Gujarat. He added that under Modi’s leadership, many people had constructed countless ponds.

Amit Shah said that after becoming Prime Minister, Modi established the Ministry of Jal Shakti. He said that saints had been saying for centuries that “water is life”, but no government before this had established a dedicated Ministry of Jal Shakti.

He said that without spending an additional rupee, Modi had facilitated the removal of silt from dams across the country and increased irrigation capacity by 160 per cent. Under Modi’s leadership, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign were launched to ensure that every drop of water returns to the ground.

Shah said Gujarat had now been largely freed from the problem of drought. The number of lakes and dams in the state had increased, while the area under cultivation had also expanded. He said river rejuvenation and pond construction had significantly improved groundwater levels in many areas.

Shah said the culture of water conservation across Saurashtra had now reached the younger generation. Thousands of saints and folk artists had conveyed the message of water conservation to the people.

He said Gujarat faced an adverse situation in 2001. Around 80 per cent of the state’s water was available in the region up to Bharuch, where only 16 per cent of the population lived, while areas housing 85 per cent of the population had access to only 14 per cent of the water.

Modi tried to bridge this gap through manpower, public awareness and a mass movement, Shah said. He added that through the SAUNI Yojana, Narmada water was taken to Saurashtra, while the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana in North Gujarat helped raise the water table in villages.

Shah said Gujarat had now truly become drought-free, with an increase in lakes and check dams, improved agricultural activity and greater greenery. He said that from 2001 to 2026, the state had not witnessed drought, attributing this to Modi’s schemes.

The Home Minister said Harikrishna Group founder Savji Dholakia told him that he had never requested the government for a Padma Shri, yet he was conferred the honour. Shah said that if a person who had constructed 208 lakes for water conservation still had to request a Padma Shri, “our government would be considered worthless.”

He said a government that could not recognise such noble work could not be called a government. Shah added that the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna were not honours meant for family members or acquaintances, but for people who dedicated their lives to the service of the nation without seeking praise. DeshGujarat