NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, JUNE 29
Stating that ‘Water is life’ and we all should make collective efforts for conserving water by adopting ancient traditions of underground water storage tank system, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday inaugurated a rainwater harvesting project to be implemented in 1,000 government-run schools in Vadodara district at the cost of Rs 6 crore.
CM Shri @vijayrupanibjp today e-launched rainwater harvesting system in 1000 Govt schools of Vadodara district, the first-of-its-kind successful project in the country and stressed on adopting this visionary initiative in all Govt buildings across the state. pic.twitter.com/CFPKEy6WdV
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) June 29, 2020
This ambitious project, aimed at storing around 10 crore litres of rainwater every year, was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ”Mann Ki Baat” programme on June 28, an official release said.
" साथियो, गुजरात के वडोदरा का भी एक उदहारण बहुत प्रेरक है ।यहाँ, जिला प्रशासन और स्थानीय लोगों ने मिलकर एक दिलचस्प मुहिम चलाई । इस मुहिम की वजह से आज वडोदरा में, एक हजार स्कूलों में rain water harvesting होने लगी है ।" – प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/gVYYXb04ra
— Vijay Rupani (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vijayrupanibjp) June 29, 2020
While inaugurating that project through video-conferencing from Gandhinagar, Rupani called upon people and administration to implement similar water harvesting projects in other government schools and buildings across the state.
CM Shri @vijayrupanibjp also dedicated Rs.124.51-cr surface source-Narmada Canal based water supply scheme for 118 villages & 30 Narmada colonies under Phase-1 of Dabhoi Group Water Supply Scheme and launched Rs.43.94-cr works of Phase-3 of the same scheme via video conferencing pic.twitter.com/cKKjiJx8jT
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) June 29, 2020
This is the first successful project of its kind in the country for rainwater harvesting, he is quoted as saying in the release.
The CM appealed to people to adopt such techniques for achieving water security, it said.
The water harvesting project was completed in only nine months by the district administration, said the release.
Apart from government grants, the project has received financial contributions from various corporates under their CSR funds, and from the District Mineral Foundation Fund, the release added.
Rupani briefed about the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan, a water conservation scheme, launched by the state government through public cooperation. Because of it we are able to increase the storage capacity of 40628 lakh cubic feet in three years despite the challenge of COVID-19 transition this year.
Detailing about the planned steps taken to make Gujarat a water surplus state Rupani said that Gujarat has shown a new hope to the nation through Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan, reuse of water, 10 desalination plants to make seawater drinkable, purify waste water in cities and metros. He expressed water as the basis of development.
Applauding the efforts Rupani said, “Water is a gift given by the god and we must use it wisely keeping in mind the future generation.”
Rupani also dedicated laid foundation stones of various schemes of Dabhoi through video conferencing and released a book “Varsha Jalnidhi”.
Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly Rajendra Trivedi, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Secretary to the Chief Minister Ashwanikumar from Gandhinagar as well as Minister of State Yogeshbhai Patel, MLAs, MPs, office-bearers of Vadodara city-district participated in this e-launch through video-conference.
Vadodara District Collector Shalini Agarwal gave details of the entire project and welcomed everyone. District Development Officer Kiran Zaveri thanked everyone.
