HM Amit Shah lays foundation for Rs 815 crore projects in Gujarat
Gandhinagar, July 21
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 815 crore across the Gandhinagar and Sabarkantha districts, with major investments directed towards healthcare, transport infrastructure, water conservation and public amenities.
The programme included the inauguration of the Rs 89 crore Aluva-Sadra bridge over the Sabarmati River and a new Community Health Centre at Charada, while foundation stones were laid for two barrages on the Sabarmati River valued at Rs 716.14 crore.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Shah said the development momentum initiated in Gujarat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had continued under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Referring to the projects in the Mansa and Prantij constituencies, he said development works worth around Rs 817 crore had been dedicated to the public.
"The Aluva-Sadra bridge would improve connectivity for residents, students and pilgrims while supporting tourism around the Jakshini Mata Temple. The Community Health Centre at Charada would provide 24-hour dialysis services, an operation theatre, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and other advanced medical facilities to more than one lakh people in the surrounding area," he said.
Shah also inaugurated a community hall at Raniyapur in Mansa, an elevated service reservoir (ESR) water tank at Alkapuri and the new Sanskar Bhavan Trust building at Bapupura village.
Paying tribute to Padma Shri and Jnanpith Award recipient Raghuveer Chaudhari, Shah said: " The noted author, despite emerging from a family of farmers and livestock rearers, remained humble throughout his life. The Sanskar Bhavan named after Chaudhari would become a source of inspiration for future generations."
The Union minister said two new barrages on the Sabarmati River would provide a long-term solution to irrigation and drinking water needs by storing river water for up to eight months in areas including Charada, Mansa and Ridrol.
He said the projects were expected to improve groundwater levels by five to ten feet, benefiting farmers and livestock rearers while also supporting tourism and wildlife conservation.
"An advanced Civil Hospital was also under construction in the Mansa region to reduce the need for residents to travel to Gandhinagar for treatment. The hospital would function in coordination with nearby Community Health Centres to strengthen healthcare delivery," he emphasised.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said Gujarat had remained at the forefront of implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a "developed India" and had recorded significant progress over the past 12 years in infrastructure, rural development, education, healthcare and connectivity.
He said development had expanded beyond urban centres to reach poor, deprived and remote rural communities.
"Development is not limited to brick-and-mortar structures, but is a powerful medium for bringing convenience, security and prosperity into people's lives," Patel said.
Patel said several other projects relating to healthcare, water conservation, education and social infrastructure had also been inaugurated or launched.
"Wherever roads are built, employment follows; wherever health centres are established, the security of life improves; and wherever educational facilities expand, the future becomes brighter and more prosperous," he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted a large-scale tree plantation campaign in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency undertaken under Modi's guidance and Shah's inspiration.
"Around 1.25 crore trees had recently been planted, and lakhs more had been planted within a single hour using the Miyawaki method," he said.
Minister of State for Health, Praful Pansheriya, said new primary and community health centres had been constructed at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore, while free cochlear implant surgeries costing between Rs eight lakh and Rs 10 lakh for hearing and speech-impaired children were now available through Civil Hospitals.
"A cleanliness drive across more than 12,000 hospitals had removed unused materials and brought 1,800 rooms back into use for patient care," he noted.
Pansheriya said that under the Prime Minister's vision, the SAUNI Yojana and the world's largest underground pipeline network had extended water supply to farmers and livestock rearers in Saurashtra and Kutch.
"Farmers who once borrowed at interest rates of 18 per cent could now access loans of up to Rs three lakh at zero per cent interest, while electricity connections costing Rs 1.77 lakh were being provided for Rs 100 and for Rs 1,350 in tribal areas," he said.
Water Resources Minister Ishwarsinh Patel said the Gujarat government's water supply and irrigation department was working to rejuvenate the Sabarmati River by constructing additional barrages between Dharoi Dam and the Gulf of Khambhat.
"Foundation stones had been laid for the Rs 413.63 crore Hirak barrage and the Rs 302.51 crore Rakhiyal barrage, together accounting for investments of Rs 716.14 crore," he noted.
According to the minister, the projects are intended to improve water storage, irrigation and drinking water availability across North Gujarat.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive figures - Rs 815 crore is no small amount. But I hope the execution matches the ambition. In many Indian states, we see foundation stones laid with great fanfare but projects drag on for years. The Aluva-Sadra bridge especially sounds critical for connectivity to the Jakshini Mata Temple. Let's hope these aren't just election-year announcements and actually get completed on time.
The zero-interest loan scheme for farmers up to Rs 3 lakh is something nobody is talking about! My father-in-law in Saurashtra used to pay 18% interest to local moneylenders. If this reaches the right beneficiaries, it could break the cycle of debt that traps so many farmers. And cochlear implants for speech-impaired children - that's life-changing. Healthcare infrastructure in small towns is finally getting attention.
Good to see development in Gandhinagar and Sabarkantha, but what about other backward districts? Gujarat has huge regional disparities - North Gujarat gets these big projects while tribal areas of Dahod or Banaskantha still lack basic roads and hospitals. Also, CM Patel says 'development is not limited to brick and mortar' - then why is every announcement about concrete structures? Need more focus on education quality and job creation.
The Miyawaki tree plantation method mentioned here is fascinating - 1.25 crore trees planted in Gandhinagar constituency! As someone who works in environmental science, I know this Japanese technique can create dense forests in just 20-30 years. If Gujarat combines this with the barrages for water conservation, it could set an example for climate-resilient development in semi-arid regions. Hope they maintain the saplings properly.
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