Centre sanctions Rs 730 cr for Narmada project
Gandhinagar, Aug 29 : The Centre has sanctioned Rs 730 crore for the Gujarat's Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada river for the current year and also committed soft loan of Rs 1,500 crore for the state's other irrigation projects, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday.
Patel told reporters here that the money was sanctioned since the Narmada project is considered one of India's 99 major irrigational projects. "We have set a target of completing the Narmada project by December 2019."
Projected as Gujarat's lifeline, it aims to meet the water needs of a major portion of the state.
The canal network of the incomplete project, whose command area covers 17 districts, is spread over 27,000 square km. It will cost an estimated Rs 13,000 crore.
Patel said that the low-interest loan of around Rs 1,500 crore for irrigation projects in Gujarat will be repaid by the state in 15 years, with instalments starting after a three-year grace period.
Patel said that water level in the Sardar Sarovar reservoir had incresed to 120.93 metres due to substantial rains in Madhya Pradesh and it is expected to go up to 121 metres. "Due to closing of dam sluice gates, further water storage will be possible for use in irrigation," he said.
He said the stored water was adequate to meet the drinking water needs of the state though release of water for irrigation needed to be restricted.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
