Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the Saurashtra Narmada Avataran for Irrigation (SAUNI) project at Jamnagar in Gujarat.
The inauguration site of the project is located at Sanosara village near Dhroll. At least 10 dams and reservoirs have been built under the project, located at Rajkot, Jamnagar and Morbi. All the dams will soon be filled up with the Narmada River water.
Check the live updates here:
1: 42 p.m. IST: PM Modi says an integrated crop scheme was also launched to help farmers of the region.
1: 40 p.m. IST: Gujarat has adopted the mantra of 'vikas.' We took up the issue of better road connectivity across India, particularly in villages: Modi
1: 39 p.m. IST: SAUNI project is an initiative that will make every Gujarati proud. All of us should take note of how this project has come through: Modi
1: 38 p.m. IST: "Narmada project is an engineering marvel. It uses the highest technology to pump water in difficult terrains," says the PM.
1:30 p.m. IST: We brought a crop insurance scheme that will help the farmers: PM Modi
1:29 p.m. IST: "SAUNI project is an initiative that will make every Gujarati proud. All of us should take note of how this project has come through," PM Modi says.
1:27 p.m. IST:
1:25 p.m. IST: "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," says PM Modi.
1:20 p.m. IST: "When I had took oath as (Gujarat) CM, I told farmers that what is most important for you is water," says PM Modi.
1: 15 p.m. IST: "Whatever I learnt in Gujarat has helped me a lot when I went to Delhi," says Modi.
1:05 p.m. IST: PM Modi begins his address, speaks in Gujarati saying, "I am thankful to the Gujarat govt. for inviting me to inaugurate this project."
The SAUNI project was announced when PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat in 2012. The project, which is worth almost Rs. 12,000 crore, is said to be one of the most ambitious plans of Modi. Nearly 115 dams of the Saurashtra region are scheduled to be filled under the project.
The Saurashtra region of Gujarat faces acute shortage of water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes.
