Centre would allow gates at Narmada dam soon: Gujarat CM

Gujarat chief minister Anandi Patel on Tuesday expressed hope that the NDA government led by the prime minister Narendra Modi would soon allow installation of gates at the Narmada dam.

Speaking at Krushi Mahotsav (farm fest) held at Chhota Udepur, about 130 km from here, Patel said permission to install gates at the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam was expected very soon, and the installation work should take two and a half years.

The decision on installation of gates at Kevadiya, 60 km from Chhota Udepur, was pending for more than five years as the UPA government sat on the issue despite several pleas by the Gujarat government, she claimed.

The installation of gates would benefit Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, she said.

Modi, when he was the Gujarat chief minister, had repeatedly accused the UPA government at the Centre of denying permission because of political reasons.

Chief minister Patel on this occasion also stated that school attendance in tribal areas had improved after the launch of Doodh Sanjivani Yojana, under which flavoured milk is provided to students.

She also launched ‘i-Kisan’ portal and mobile applications for farmers on this occasion which provide farming-related information.