The Gujarat Government has earmarked Rs 9,000 crore this year for construction of canals in various regions of the State for supply of the Narmada waters from the Sardar Sarovar dam, the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, said today.

Laying the foundation stones for construction of two major works worth Rs 320 crore at Morbi in Rajkot district, he said tenders for remaining works of the branch canal and ancillary distribution network, with an estimated cost of Rs. 200 crore, have already been invited.

Recently, construction work began for the Vejpur and Malsan Branch Canal and also on the Kutch Branch Canal.

“The State Government will spend Rs 9,000 crore this year for construction of the Narmada canal network. This amount is equal to the size of State's annual budget some decades ago,” he said.

The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) Chairman, Mr D. Rajagopalan, said the construction of Morbi Branch Canal will extend irrigational benefits to 1.52 lakh acres of land in 87 villages of Surendranagar and Rajkot districts. These works will also begin in the current year.

The SSNNL Managing Director, Mr S. Jagadeesan, said the corporation had, in the last four months, launched works worth Rs 1,803 crore for construction of various branch canals.

After the Morbi Branch Canal, work on the Limbdi Branch Canal will begin on April 22.

The total estimated cost for the work of Morbi Branch Canal and ancillary distribution network is around Rs 520 crore, out of which Rs 338 crore will be spent for the branch canal, while the remaining Rs 182 crore will be used for construction of distribution network.

All these works are expected to be completed in the next 18 to 24 months.

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