Amreli: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday recalled the long history of the Narmada project and said that its foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, while its gates were opened after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar in Dudhli, Amreli district, Shah said the Narmada project had been a long-running initiative, with its water eventually reaching large parts of Gujarat.
Shah said, “The foundation of the Narmada project was laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. I was also born in 1964. Its gates were opened when Narendra Bhai became Prime Minister.”
He said Narmada water was subsequently taken to Saurashtra and extended up to Khavda in Kutch. He also highlighted the SAUNI Yojana, under which surplus Narmada water was diverted to dams and rivers in the Saurashtra region.
Shah linked the state’s efforts to conserve water with the reduction in drought conditions in Gujarat. Recalling the drought years of 1985, 1986 and 1987, he spoke about the severe water shortage and relief measures undertaken during that period.
He said, “After becoming Chief Minister in 2001, PM Modi initiated several measures for water conservation and irrigation. In 2003, he undertook the work of constructing 1.5 lakh check dams in a single year.”
Shah also mentioned the construction and filling of thousands of lakes, the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana in North Gujarat, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, and the Centre’s Catch the Rain campaign.
He said that after PM Modi assumed office at the Centre, the creation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti provided greater institutional focus to water conservation efforts. He added that steps had also been taken to improve irrigation capacity by removing bottlenecks in existing dams.
Speaking about the Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar Project, Shah said that Harikrishna Foundation founder Savji Dholakia had told him about his plan to build a lake two years ago.
Shah said he had now seen the completed project and praised the initiative for water conservation. He said the lake, spread over 21 acres, is 360 metres long, 260 metres wide and four metres deep.
According to Shah, Dholakia had told him that water conservation efforts had resulted in a rise in the groundwater level in the area and that several wells had become operational again.
He added, “Dholakia’s foundation has also contributed to reviving the Gagadia River and constructing 208 lakes.”
Shah expressed confidence that such initiatives would encourage collective efforts for water conservation across Saurashtra and Gujarat.
He said, “Those who have been blessed by God will certainly come forward among the people to conserve water. They will also inspire others, and people will collectively take forward the work of water conservation.”
