The President of India, Ramnath Kovind, will launch Rs 1,700 crore irrigation project in Rajkot district during his day long visit to Gujarat on Sunday.
Sources in the State protocol department informed that the President would arrive in the State on September 3 in the morning and would offer prayer at ancient Ghela Somnath temple near Jasdan town in Rajkot district. Kovind will also address a gathering there. later in the day, he would launch Saurashtra Avataran Narmada Irrigation (SAUNI) project link-4 to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore. Both the functions of the President will be attended by Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Union Minister Parashotam Rupala and Manshukh Mandviya.
SAUNI project is the brainchild of former Gujarat Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi to link more than 100 dams in the Saurashtra region and fill them with additional water of Narmada dam. Earlier, this year, PM Modi dedicated phase I of the SAUNI project to the people of Saurashtra at a function near Botad town.
Kovind is visiting the State for the first time after he assumed the charge of the top constitutional position. His liking for the PM Modi’s home-state is well known as he was quoted as saying in the past that Gujarat was home away from home for him and he kept on travelling the State frequently for the past three and half decades.
last time he visited the State as presidential candidate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to explain detail pertaining to presidential voting system as well as its technicality to eligible voters — MPs and MlAs. Though the President’s final itinerary has not prepared, but he is also likely to visit Ahmedabad and North Gujarat town Mehsana along with his Saurashtra visit on September 3, said the sources.