Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the first phase of SAUNI-Saurastra Narmada Avataran Irrigation yojana today at Sanodara of Jamnagar district of Gujarat.
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Modi addressed a rally in Jamnagar after launching SAUNI. It was announced in 2012 when Mr. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Few people did not like what I said then, they disagreed with me but I remained firm on my stand that water is of prime importance.
“Whatever I have learnt here and whatever Gujarat has taught me is now helping me in serving the country and entire country is benefiting from that”, Mr. Modi said saluting the people and land of Gujarat. Check dams were built in large numbers.
To meet the water demands of Saurashtra region, the Gujarat government will launch the SAUNI scheme under which 115 dams will be provided with excess water of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from the river Narmada. Overall, 115 dams will get Narmada water under the irrigation project, which cost the government approximately Rs 12,000 crore. The completion of the first phase of the project comes ahead of the assembly polls in the state. “We took up the issue of better road connectivity across India and particularly in villages”.
Saurashtra region faces drought like situation nearly every three years. The entire project is expected to complete by 2019.
Saruashtra, which comprises 11 districts, faces drought like situation often and has been reeling under severe water scarcity due to scanty rainfall in the last two years.
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Meanwhile, alertness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of a water project saved the lives of several cameramen and photographers, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel informed.
