Gujarat CM lays foundation stone of tidal regulator dam in Navsari district

The 18-kilometre-long tidal regulatory dam will hold 2,550 lakh cubic feet of water, said Patel, and added, “Gujarat’s development is based on the Panch Shaktis laid down by Prime Minister Narenrda Modi, whose sweet fruits (benefits) the people of Gujarat are now getting. The Panch Shaktis are Jal Shakti, Urja Shakti, Gnan Shakti, Raksha Shakti and Jan Shakti. The government has connected Jal shakti with Jan Shakti, as a result of which, in Gujarat, a specific system for water management has been put into practice to overcome water crisis for drinking, irrigation and household works.”

Patel said, “The Purna Regulator Project will prevent sea water from mixing with the rivers which in turn will prevent salinization activities. The ground water level which has gone down will come up once the project is finished. The target of the state government is to raise the level of ground water through ‘Jal Sanchay’, to meet the crisis of water for drinking and irrigation.”

The CM further said, “The work to build the Vaghrech Tidal Regulator project at Billimora, which commenced a year ago, is on the verge of completion.” Patel also said, “For our government, the common man assumes the central focus. The role of government in good governance, one which is not based on caste, creed or religion but purely for the citizens. Our state is working in the direction of making 75 Amrut Sarovars in each district and the work is in progress.”

Patel was accompanied by state BJP president C R Paatil and cabinet colleagues Mukesh Patel and Kunvarji Bavalia.

Water Resources and Water Supply minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said, “South Gujarat is always blessed with good rainfall. But due to sea water mixing with Purna river, there was scarcity of water for irrigation and drinking. The project will help prevent water salinzation in the nearby areas.”

State BJP president and Navsari MP C R Paatil, who was also present in the event, said, “Seeing the geographical location of the district, this project has been undertaken by the state government keeping in mind the interest of the large number of people and their long lasting demands. Water problems will become a matter of the past once the project is completed.”

Addressing the crowd, Paatil said, “The upcoming PM Mitra Mega Textile park in Navsari will bring investments worth Rs 70,000 crore and this will bring different opportunities and employment for the local people of Navsari who travel to Surat for jobs on a daily basis. The state government had allotted 1,000 hectare of land for this project. Apart from this, the work on a bridge on the Midhola creek connecting Abhva of Surat to Ubhrat in Navsari will shorten the distance between Surat and Navsari.”

He further added, “In 2009, when I first contested the parliamentary election from the Navsari seat, I roamed in different villages and met different people and found that the water from rainfall in Dangs district reaches Navsari and finally flows into the sea. Dangs receives heavy rainfall as a result of which, Navsari district faces a flood-like situation every monsoon. South Gujarat receives 65 per cent of the total rainfall in Gujarat and despite that several coastal villages in Navsari district face drinking water issues. This is the third tidal dam coming in the district and it will prevent floods in the district and also supply drinking and irrigation water to the villages.”

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of a 100-bed hospital in Chikhli which will be built at the cost of Rs 36 crore; a sports complex which will be built at a cost of Rs 10 crore by the Sports Authority of Gujarat and a high level bridge on Ambika river joining Amalsad and Gandevi in Navsari district.