Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that state government will develop solar-based desalination water treatment plants on the sea-coasts of Gujarat. The plants will be developed on a big scale and in a cost-effective way, helping industries to get clean water for their operations.

Chief Minister today, on the World Water Day, inaugurated a Swarnim Seminar on ‘Water for inclusive growth’, at Pandit Dindayal University. The seminar was organized by Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam.

Stressing upon the people’s awareness for rain water conservation, Shri Modi said only with the awareness and involvement of the people can be made water conservation efforts more effective.

He cited various examples where people worked hand-to-hand with government in various water conservation activities like lakhs of check-dams have been built; farmers used drip irrigation method in around two lakh acre of land and got more crops; people helped government in revitalizing about 1100 ancient step-wells. Gujarat has really actualized the mantra of ‘More Crop Per Drop’, he said.

Chief Minister said that government, with Narmada Canal pipeline, extended the drinking water facility to the village areas, that has freed the rural women form everyday troubles that they were facing due to unavailability of drinking water. Ten years back, some 4000 villages were receiving clean water through water-tankers but today, he said, Gujarat has become a ‘tanker-free’ state.

Referring to the five elements that Indian scriptures have talked about, he said that society should imbibe the significance of these five elements living in harmony with them, as was done by our ancestors.

Chief Minister insisted on the need of water recycling and water treatment and said he suggested prime minister to implement environment clean city project in 500 cities of India under JUNURM, emphasizing ‘solid waste management’ and ‘water treatment management’. His suggestion got good response initially but the latest union budget has put a half-hearted focus on it, Shri Modi said insisting that his government is determined to implement this project in as many as 50 cities of Gujarat during the Swarnim Jyanti year.

Chief Minister, on the occasion, released three research manuals on Sardar Sarovar project, prepared by Shri R.Parthsarthi and Prof.Ravindra Dholakiya.

Chief Secretary Shri A.K.Joti, Sardar Sarovar Nigam’s Managing Director Shri Jagdishan and experts of the water resources field were present on the occasion.