New Delhi: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that linkage of rivers will help the farmers of our country to grow more crops and raise their earnings and contribute in the progress of the country as a result of increased irrigation facilities. He was addressing the gathering after unveiling the Plaque for the ‘Sujalam Sufalam Yojana’ (Water and Irrigation Projects), in Mehsana, Gujarat, today. The Governor of Gujarat, Shri Om Prakash Kohli, the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Nitin Patel, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Smt. Anandi Ben Patel, the Minister of Water Resources, Government of Gujarat, Shri Nanubhai Vanani and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The Vice President said that there are many rivers in our country, and some of the states are receiving more water and in many other states, farmers are not getting benefits of these rivers. He further said that the Governments have been considering over inter-linking of rivers for decades. But there were many hurdles in its realization and so it took time to implement this concept, he added.
The Vice President expressed his happiness that Gujarat Government has given concrete shape to the concept of river linkage and has linked Narmada and Sabarmati rivers, so that more and more farmers are benefitted. He further said that he is fortunate to inaugurate the Plaque for the Project.
The Vice President said that the main sources of the progress of Gujarat are: Agriculture and Industry and every state must pay due attention to both of them. Work for everyone and water for every farm is very important and this was a beautiful dream of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, he added.
The Vice President said that there are many public-welfare programmes, specially irrigation programme already going on in Gujarat. He further said that by making small dams, this state has shown how to preserve rain-water that reaches the farms. Despite facing many hurdles, this state has built Sardar Sarovar Dam, which is one of the world’s highest dam, he added.
