On 4th September 2017, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, President of India laid the foundation for Link-4 pipeline canal of SAUNI Scheme at Jasdan in Rajkot district of Gujarat.
SAUNI Scheme
i. Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation (SAUNI) Scheme was conceived by Mr. Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
ii. This project aims to fill up 115 dams of 11 districts of Saurashtra by overflowing water from Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada River by a web of 1126 km long pipeline network.
iii. The unique feature of this project is making pipe canals instead of conventional open canals which leads requires no acquisition of land and involves less water loss.
iv. The total budget for this project is Rs.10,000 crores.
v. This project will benefit more than 2,00,000 acres of farm land and more than 900 villages of 7 districts of Saurashtra.
vi Work under this project commenced on March, 2014.
vii. This project consists of four links:
- Link 1: From Machhu-II dam of Morbi district to Sani Dam of Jamanagar District:Carrying capacity is 1200 cusecs. Thirty reservoirs of Rajkot, Morbi, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamanagar Districts will be filled and 2,02,100 acres of area will be benefitted. Length of pipeline is 57.67 km.
- Link 2: From Limbdi Bhogavo-II Dam of Surendranagar District to Raidi Dam of Amreli District: Carrying capacity is 1050 cusecs. Seventeen reservoirs of Bhavnagar, Botad and Amreli Districts and a total area of 2,74,700 acres will be benefitted. Length of pipeline is 51.28 km.
- Link 3: From Dholidhaja Dam of Surendranagar District to Venu-I Dam of Rajkot District: Carrying capacity is 1200 cusecs. Twenty eight reservoirs of Rajkot, Jamanagar, Dev bhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Morbi and Surendranagar Districts and 1,98,067 acres of area will be benefitted. Length of pipeline is 66.30 km.
- Link 4: From Limbdi Bhogavo-II Dam of Surendranagar District to Hiran-II Irrigation scheme of Junagadh: Carrying capacity of 1200 cusecs. Forty reservoirs of Rajkot, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Botad Districts and a total area of 3,47,722 acre will be benefitted. Length of pipeline is 54.70 km.
viii.Earlier in June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rajkot when Aji dam was filled with the Narmada water under SAUNI project.
President’s Visit to Rajkot:
i.For the first time, the President of India has visited Rajkot for a government programme ii.It was a two day visit to Rajkot.
iii. During his speech on this occasion, The President praised the micro irrigation works carried out in Gujarat. He said, “Gujarat has linked water conservation with Gram- Sabhas, which is exemplary”.
iv.The Governor of Gujarat O.P.Kohli, Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel also spoke on this occasion. President Kovind has left for Delhi after completing his two day visit to Gujarat.
Other Static Information:
i.The 14th President of India is Mr.Ram Nath Kovind.
ii.The Governor of Gujarat is Mr.O.P.Kohli.
iii.The Chief Minister of Gujarat is Mr.Vijay Rupani.
iv.The Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat is Mr.Nitin Patel
v.The Prime Minister of India is Mr.Narendra Modi.
