In Mehsana, M Venkaiah Naidu bats for river linking

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has said that linkage of rivers will help farmers grow more crops and raise their income, which will contribute to the progress of the country.

Naidu was addressing a gathering after unveiling the plaque for the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana (water and irrigation projects) in Mehsana on Wednesday.

The Vice President said that governments have been considering inter-linking of rivers for decades, but there were many hurdles in its realisation and so it took time to implement the concept. He expressed happiness that the Gujarat government has given concrete shape to river linkage by linking the Narmada and Sabarmati rivers.

Naidu also said that main sources of the progress of Gujarat are agriculture and industry, and asked all states to pay due attention to both areas.

"Work for everyone and water for every farm is very important and this was a dream of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay," Naidu said further remembering the BJP ideologue.

He further said that by making small dams, Gujarat has shown how to preserve rain-water that reaches farms.