Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the 'Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar' in Amreli, Gujarat, a significant water conservation infrastructure project. The reservoir spans 21 acres with a capacity of 400 million liters and was constructed by the Harikrishna Group and Dholakia Foundation. It is designed to enhance water availability for agriculture and drinking purposes while supporting groundwater conservation efforts.
Shah highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's water conservation initiatives, noting that since Modi assumed office as Chief Minister in 2001 and later as Prime Minister, Gujarat has not experienced any major drought through 2026. Significant achievements include a 160% increase in irrigation capacity of dams across the country through silt removal programs, the construction of approximately 1.5 lakh check dams by 2003, and the implementation of drip irrigation systems, sprinkler irrigation systems, and the 'Catch the Rain' campaign nationwide.
The Narmada project, whose foundation was laid in 1964, became operational under Modi's leadership, delivering Narmada water to Saurashtra, Kutch, and Khavda regions. Water from the Narmada River is now stored in approximately 10,000 reservoirs across North and Central Gujarat. The SAUNI Yojana channels surplus water into dams and rivers of Saurashtra, while the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana focuses on raising water tables in North Gujarat villages.
Shah credited Modi's establishment of the Ministry of Jal Shakti at the central level as a landmark move, noting that previous governments had not created a dedicated ministry for water management. The initiatives have resulted in increased agricultural yields, expanded greenery, improved rainfall patterns, and substantial groundwater level improvements across many areas of Gujarat.
The event also acknowledged Savji Dholakia, founder of Harikrishna Group, who received the Padma Shri honor for building 208 lakes for water conservation without making any request to the government.