PM Modi launches Rs 12,000 crore irrigation project in Saurashtra

Through supply of water to the parched region, SAUNI Yojana could boost BJP's prospects further next year

Inauguration of the first phase of Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana (SAUNI) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday that is set to bring water from Narmada to the otherwise largely parched region of Saurashtra could very well boost the ruling party's prospects in next year's Gujarat assembly elections.

Suffering frequently from drought-like situations, the Saurashtra region, which has the highest concentration of farming community, is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if it has to retain its majority in Gujarat.

Conceptualised by Modi during as Gujarat chief minister in September 2012, the SAUNI Yojana is aimed at providing surplus water from Narmada river to Saurashtra region. The project has envisaged use of 43,500 million cubic feet (mcft) flood water of Narmada for the region to supplement about 115 existing dams in the interest of farmers and people.

Divided into four links, the project will see Link-1 filling 30 dams, while Link-2, Link-3 and Link-4 will fill-up 17, 28 and 40 dams with Narmada water, respectively.

The project will see water being supplied by way of pipelines covering a length of about 1,126 km pipelines for the entire four links. Work on the first phase of the four links pipe canals began in April 2014, while work on the the rest three links, of about 230 km in length, is in progress, out of which work on 222 km pipes have been completed so far.

The irrigation project is expected to cover over 1 million acres of agriculture land in Saurashtra region. The state government has invested about Rs 12,166 crore in the project.

"It is a big achievement for the state that it has completed the water project with geographical difficulties. Farmers are capable of harvesting gold from land if they have sufficient water supply. SAUNI Yojana is a project of gold harvesting and I am sure farmers of Saurashtra will do it," Modi while addressing a public gathering soon after the inauguration here.

Urging farmers not to waste water and rather opt for drip irrigation, Modi said: "Now farmers will not have water scarcity issue because of this project. But use the water carefully and don't misuse it while it is easily available. It is our responsibility to extend water supply to the next generation."

Modi claimed that because of Narmada water reaching across the state, production of cotton has gone up by 370%, groundnut production increased by 600% and wheat production gained by 350% in the state.

Explaining about his absence from Gujarat after taking charge as Prime Minister, Modi said: "It was my learning phase and that's why I was not able to visit Gujarat. The state government, my friends from BJP also complained about it to me and I apologize for not visiting much. Now, I am prepared and will definitely come here whenever you call me."

Talking about other farmer centric initiatives, Modi stated that the government had increased fertilizer production capacity to two million tonne so that farmers would not have to face shortage. "The government has also set a target to provide gas connection to the 50 million families in India by 2019," he said during the speech, which saw some Patidar youths being detained for sloganeering.

Meanwhile, blaming Congress for delay in the project, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said: "Due to Congress, Sardar Sarovar Narmada dams water did not reach Saurashtra, otherwise green revolution would have come early."