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This is an archive article published on October 14, 2024

‘Riverfronts can be developed only in areas with water availability 12 months a year’: Gujarat CM

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel said this while speaking at an event organised to mark 23 years of development under the then-state CM and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

gandhinagarChief Minister Bhupendra Patel (File)

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel Monday said that riverfronts should only be developed in areas where local bodies have made water available throughout the year. Following the “successful” Sabarmati Riverfront project in Ahmedabad, the CM added, many talk about it while seeking approval to have a riverfront in their localities.

The CM said this while speaking at an event that is part of Vikas Saptah, organised to mark 23 years of development in Gujarat under the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Patel recollected a number of development initiatives by Modi in Gujarat and mentioned the Sabarmati Riverfront as part of it.

“Today, (the concept of) riverfront has reached the village level. People come to me seeking approval at the municipality level for a riverfront… What was there before the riverfront in Ahmedabad?” the CM said.

“Planning does not suffice, political will is equally needed. With that political will, people who were staying (on the banks of Sabarmati), were shifted and given much better houses than the huts they were living in, and then this development was done. So, the leap of development has been taken while taking care of the poorest persons,” he added.

The CM further said, “Today, everyone is talking about the riverfront. But what is the reason behind its success? Today, when many (office bearers) at the municipality level and others are here, I will say that we should develop riverfronts only at places where water is available all 12 months of the year.”

During the function, attended by many ministers and top bureaucrats including Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, Patel laid foundation stones and inaugurated 16 developmental works of different departments worth Rs 2,000 crore.

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To mark the 23 years of Gujarat’s development under Modi, the state government is celebrating Vikas Saptah between October 7 and October 15. Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001.

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More

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