PM Modi dedicates Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation on his birthday, says it is his tribute to the arid land of western India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation on Sunday and impressed upon everyone that he always planned and worked for the larger canvas.
"I always think big and work for big projects only. I never think of a small task. Sardar Sarovar Dam is a tribute to the arid western India. An old farmer will now get water for his farms. No girl in villages will have to trudge through a distance of six to eight kilometres with pots on their heads for water," said Modi at the dam site in Kevadia colony.
Modi was nostalgic and recalled the contribution of Sardar Patel, who had envisioned the project. The 138m-long, world's biggest dam built over river Narmada will supply water to 60 per cent of Gujarat's population to drink and irrigate over 18,000 square km agricultural land.
Modi said, "I do not wish to politicise the issue, it is not the time to talk about politics. But there were several elements all across the globe that said that the project was anti-environment. The World Bank denied funding for it, but I want to thank the multitude in Gujarat who donated money, and the religious institutions that opened their donation boxes for this dam."
He said that his focus was on farmers' needs.
"Lakhs of farmers will benefit from this project. This project will revolutionise western India," added the PM.
Modi also gave away cash prizes to winners of an essay-writing, poetry and slogan-writing competition on Narmada and the Sardar Sarovar Dam. He also released a coffee table book written on the rehabilitation of affected families for the project.
SEVA DIWAS
- PM Modi’s birthday on Sunday was observed as Seva Diwas across the country
- Leaders & ministers atte-nded medical camps, blood donation events, and took part in cleanliness drives
"This is a state-of-the-art project. Our PM has conceptualized 30 river linking projects and three will be implemented soon."
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Water Resources
"The Opposition has been running a false campaign against the project and Gujarat should give an apt reply to them at the right time."
Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat
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 "Sardar Sarovar Dam")
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