Ahmedabad: Union Home minister and Gandhinagar Lok Sabha MP Amit Shah while speaking here today asked the State government to keep ponds across Ahmedabad full of water through Narmada water supply across the year. Shah congratulated AMC for sealing illegal gutter connections to ponds and asked AMC office bearers to continue this drive.

‘When Narendra Modi was Chief Minister and I was MLA, number of ponds were readied for water storage, but then some people attached gutter connections to ponds. Many pipelines were blocked to prevent entry of gutter liquid into ponds in order to protect the ponds against smelling. I had recently asked AMC to seal illegal gutter connections and AMC did that task on war foot basis and I congratulate AMC has done it. I remember how rejuvenated Vastrapur lake was inaugurated with lighting and celebration. Today it is filled with rain water again. I suggest that ponds should be kept filled with water through ought the year via Narmada water supply,’ Shah said.

Shah appealed people against use of plastic and asked women to use old-style textile bags instead of plastic to carry vegetables. He said, ‘textile bags that women were using in the past would be useful for a period as long as ten years against use and throw plastic bags. Textile bags may look old fashion but it will be useful to protect the earth.’

Shah said he had written letters to chairmen and secretaries of each residential society in his constituency area and made appeal to plant at least five trees that can last for 100 years. Shah said, ‘as many as 3200 residential societies have sent me reply to convey that they have planted at least five trees. Some societies planted 50 trees, some planted 11 trees, they also conveyed me how they had made plans for watering these trees, how some of them had used pots with wholes for watering…. some also sent me charts of distribution of work for plantation, watering and care of trees.

Shah read out the figures communicated to him by AMC and Ahmedabad district administration and said 10.87 lakh trees were planted in Ahmedabad city area while 13.70 lakh were planted in district – in total 24.60 lakh trees were planted in plantation drive this year. Shah said this will bring qualitative change in life of those living here.

Shah pointed out in his speech that how Narmada dam project, foundation stone for which was laid 55 years ago could complete under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the dam will witness overflow at highest level of 138 meter in 8 to 15 days which would mark completion of the dam.

Shah flagged off 8 electric buses during the function for Janmarg Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) route. He said electric buses have been introduced in some cities but in case of Ahmedabad, it is for the first time that completely India-made electric buses have been put on roads. This would not just reduce pollution but also bring qualitative change in life of people. Shah said battery change facilities will come up in future in petrol-pump style. It would be faster to change battery compared to petrol fueling eventually for vehicles.

DeshGujarat