PM to inaugurate first phase of SAUNI project in Guj on Aug 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avataran for Irrigation) project in which nearly 10 dams and reservoirs of Rajkot, Jamnagar and Morbi would be filled up with the water of Narmada river.

The Rs 12,000 crore project is considered to be an ambitious one for Modi, who had announced the project in 2012 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, to fill up nearly 115 dams of Saurashtra region which faces shortage of water for irrigation and drinking.

"Nearly ten dams of three districts would be filled up with water from Narmada under the project, which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Aji-3 dam site," Rajkot district Collector Vikrant Pandey said.

"After inaugurating the project, the Prime Minister would address the public gathering at Sanosara town," he said.

"We are expecting around 80,000 people to attend the Prime Minister's public rally," Pandey said, adding that all preparations have been done and police too have made adequate security arrangements for the PM's security.

"A special dome (temporary covered area) has been set up using German technology as senior party leaders like Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his predecessor Anandiben Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, and other ministers of Gujarat government would attend the function.

BJP's Saurashtra-Kutch spokesperson and vice chairman of Yatradham Vikas Board, Rajubhai Dhruve, said with the implementation of the project, the Saurashtra region would witness green revolution.

"This would probably be the first project in the country to be announced and implemented within four years," Dhruve claimed.

"Narendrabhai had announced the project in September 2012 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, and after four years the first phase of the project is to be inaugurated by him," he said.

"Nearly 10,22,589 acres of farming land would get benefit by using the water from Narmada river for irrigation once the project would get completed," Dhruve added.