PM Narendra Modi to dedicate Sardar Sarovar Dam to nation on his 67th birthday: 10 points

An infrastructure project described as "Gujarat's lifeline," the Sardar Sarovar Dam took 56 years to build.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
New Delhi, September 17, 2017 | UPDATED 09:42 IST
The Sardar Sarovar Dam (CMOGuj/Twitter)The Sardar Sarovar Dam (CMOGuj/Twitter)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 67 today, will dedicate the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kevadia (in Gujarat's Narmada district) to his compatriots, during a second visit in a week to his home state.

An infrastructure project described as "Gujarat's lifeline," the Sardar Sarovar Dam took 56 years to build. Its foundation stone was laid in 1961 by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

The dedication of the dam isn't the only item on PM Modi's agenda. Here's everything you need to know about the Sardar Sarovar Dam, and about Modi's current visit to Gujarat, which comes just months ahead of the Assembly polls.

KEY POINTS
  1. The Sardar Sarovar Dam will "benefit lakhs of farmers and help fulfil people’s aspirations," Modi tweeted yesterday. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani says it has helped Gujarat's agriculture income and production increase by more than 200 per cent.
  2. It is the world's second biggest dam - the first being the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia river in the US state of Washington, NDTV reported.
  3. In 1996, the Narmada Bachao Andolan - a social movement - got the Supreme Court to stay its construction over environmental and rehabilitation issues.
  4. The court allowed construction to resume in October 2000.
  5. The dam's height was recently raised to 138.68 metres. That will allow a maximum usable storage of 4.73 million acre-feet of water.
  6. After dedicating the dam to his fellow citizens, PM Modi will travel to Sadhu Bet, where he'll assess the progress made in the 'Statue of Unity' project.
  7. Sadhu Bet is an island on the Narmada river that will soon be home to a 182-metre tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first home minister, and a memorial complex dedicated to him.
  8. Later, he'll attend the closing ceremony of Narmada Mahotsav, and address a gathering at Dabhoi. he'll also attend a several events and address a public gathering in Saurashtra's Amreli.
  9. Earlier today, he met his mother Heeraben, and sought her blessings.
  10. On the occasion of Modi's birthday, the BJP will observe Seva Diwas across the nation. Party leaders will attend medical camps, blood donation events, and cleanliness drives.

(Inputs from PTI)