Jamnagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched an irrigation scheme-- SAUNI Yojna, a project initiated by him in 2012 as Chief Minister.
Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation - SAUNI was a project launched by Modi in September 2012.
Out of four phases of SAUNI project, Modi inaugurated the first phase which covers 10 dams.
The project aims at diverting the floodwater from Sardar Sarovar Dam to several dams of the water scarce Saurashtra region though a network of canal and pipelines.
This would help with irrigation of 4.13 lakh hectares land in drought-prone Saurashtra.
Modi, who landed at the Jamnagar airport in the morning, had to drive down to Sanosara to reach the Aji dam site to inaugurate the first link of the project owing to inclement weather. The inauguration got delayed a little.
The Prime Minister pressed a button at the Aji-3 dam to open Gate two, Three and Four, to start release of the water that would fill up Aji-4 dam. Simultaneously, water would also be pumped into Uund-4 reservoir.
Modi addressed a rally in Jamnagar after launching SAUNI.
Congress had yesterday termed Modi's visit to Gujarat as "election-oriented" and alleged that it is mere "lollipop" for farmers.
