Congress slams Gujarat government on Kalpsar, Narmada canal

Congress slammed the Gujarat government today for delay in implementing the ambitious Kalpsar project as well as the Narmada canal network.
During question hour in the Assembly, Congress chief whip Balwantsinh Rajput, through two of his written questions, asked the government to give details about the progress made in the Kalpsar project and the Narmada canal network.
In her written reply, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who handles both these departments, stated that work on both these projects is underway.
Patel stated that various surveys are underway to prepare a bankable project report on the proposed Kalpsar project which recieved administrative approval on January 1, 2003.

Replying to another question about Narmada canal network, Patel stated that out of 2,585 km of branch canals, work on 222.51 km of canal is still pending. Similarly, 1,699.80 km of minor canals and 8,852.26 km of sub-minor canals are yet to be constructed.
Issuing a press release, Rajput slammed the BJP-led Gujarat government by alleging that the government had wasted people's money on the Kalpsar project.

"The approval to prepare a bankable project report was given way back in 2003. Even after these many years, the government is still doing surveys. Despite spending crores of rupees till date, the project is only on paper," Rajput alleged.

He also alleged that the Gujarat state government has missed it's own target of building of the Narmada canal network and deprived many farmers of water for their farms.
"The state government announced that it will complete the Narmada canal project by 2008. However, thousands of kilometres of canals are yet to be built. As a result, lakhs of hectares are deprived of irrigation," Rajput alleged.