Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sardar Sarovar Dam

Dabhoi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river in Gujarat. This is the second biggest dam in the world after the Grand Coulee Dam in the United States.

On the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, Modi dedicated the dam to the nation, saying the structure exhibits an "engineering miracle".

Speaking at a public rally in Dabhoi in Gujarat, Modi said this event marks another step towards building a 'new India' by 2022, when the country would mark 75 years of independence. He took this opportunity to remember Sardar Patel and BR Ambedkar saying the project would have seen the light of day decades earlier if they would have lived a little longer.

"However, the Sardar Sarovar Dam has seen many obstacles over the course of its construction," Modi said, adding, "No other project in the world has faced such hurdles. A massive misinformation campaign was launched against the project, and the discourse soon turned political."

"I have knowledge ("kacha chittha") of everyone who tried to stall this project, but I will not name them as I do not want to go on that route," he said.

Modi stressed on the deep water crisis in the western states of the country which he claimed to have witnessed first-hand when he served as the chief minister of Gujarat. He said, "When I used to visit the BSF jawans at the border I saw the hardships they faced when it came to water. I then resolved to build a 700-km pipeline which would carry Narmada water to the soldiers defending our borders through the day."

He thanked Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis for their help through the progress of this project.

"But the ones I want to thank the most for the success of this initiative are the Adivasis. They were always ready to make small sacrifices for the benefit of the nation. Today I take this opportunity to salute their contribution towards this effort," Modi said before announcing a museum which will house Adivasi artifacts and exhibit the community's local history.

"With water sports and adventure sports, we will make this spot a recreational hub which will not only help the local community with employment, but will also attract tourists from across the country and outside," Modi said.
Modi also announced the construction of a statue of Sardar Patel, which "will be the biggest in the world".

Saying India has a lot more to offer in tourism other than the Taj Mahal, Modi said, "Sardar Patel did not get due credit for his role in getting us independence from British rule, for various reasons. It is time we remember his contribution. This 190-metre tall statue will be twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in the United States, and people from around the world will come to visit this region and learn about him."