y k alagh, minister of state for planning, has appealed to the people of Gujarat to create strong public opinion to declare the Sardar Sarovar Project (ssp) a national project. Delivering a memorial lecture in Ahmedabad, Alagh expressed serious concern over the delay in the construction of the main dam.
He urged the state government to contribute its share of Rs 90 crore for the ssp canal work, the other Rs 90 crore being sanctioned by the Centre to meet the total cost of Rs 180 crore.
The minister said if the state government followed the policy of mobilising local resources, the accelerated irrigation benefit programme (aibp) could continue its financial assistance. He emphasised the need to include the ssp in the aibp in the coming year, as well as in the Ninth Plan period.
The minister pointed out that the proposal for pumping water into the Saurashtra plateau to replenish its groundwater aquifiers should be seriously considered by the government of Gujarat.
Once the Narmada dam attains a height of 320 ft and water starts flowing through the main canal, about 19 million acre ft of water is expected to flow from the Gurudeshwar point, giving a fillip to the state's power and irrigation sector, added Alagh.
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