Amreli, August 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday recalled the long history of the Narmada project, saying its foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, while its gates were opened after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.
Addressing the inauguration of the Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar at Dudhala in Amreli district, Shah said the Narmada project had remained a long-standing undertaking before its water eventually reached large parts of Gujarat.
“The foundation stone of the Narmada project was laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. I was also born in 1964. Its gates were opened when Narendra Bhai became Prime Minister,” Shah said.
He said Narmada water was subsequently taken across Saurashtra and Kutch, extending up to Khavda. He also highlighted the Sauni Yojana, through which surplus Narmada water was channelled into dams and rivers across Saurashtra.
Shah linked Gujarat’s efforts in water conservation with the decline in drought conditions in the state. Recalling the severe drought years of 1985, 1986 and 1987, he spoke about the water scarcity and relief measures undertaken at the time.
He said Modi, after becoming Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001, initiated several measures focused on water conservation and irrigation.
“In 2003, Narendra Modi worked to construct 1.5 lakh check dams in a single year,” Shah said.
He also cited the construction and filling of thousands of lakes, the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana in North Gujarat, adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems and the Centre’s Catch the Rain campaign. Shah said the creation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti after Modi became Prime Minister provided greater institutional focus to water conservation.
Turning to the Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar, Shah said Harikrishna Foundation founder Savjibhai Dholakia had told him two years ago about his plan to construct a lake.
Shah said the completed project covered 21 acres and measured 360 metres in length, 260 metres in width and four metres in depth. He said Dholakia had informed him that groundwater levels had risen and wells had been revived following the water conservation work.
He added that Dholakia’s foundation had also contributed to the revival of the Gagadiya river and the construction of 208 lakes.
Shah expressed confidence that such initiatives would encourage collective efforts towards water conservation across Saurashtra and Gujarat.
“Those whom God has blessed will certainly come forward among the people to spend for saving water. They will also be inspired, and people will take forward collective water conservation works,” he said.
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