Narmada dam's gates are fit to be installed, says Nitin Patel

Refuting Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela's allegations about the "rusting" of Narmada dam gates, Gujarat health minister and state government spokesperson Nitin Patel claimed here today that they are "fit" to be installed.
"Gates, which will be installed on the Narmada dam are totally fit and we are going to use those gates. There is no need to make new ones. We did a technical inspection of those gates recently and found no problem as claimed by Vaghela," Patel told reporters today.
Yesterday, senior Congress leader Vaghela had alleged that the BJP government gave a contract to build the gates a few years ago, when there was no possibility of installing them.

Vaghela had questioned that when the government knew that the gates could not be installed at that time, why did it give an order to Jaypee Associates to build them. He had claimed that the gates are "rusting" and cannot be used now.
Vaghela also alleged that BJP had been favouring civil contracting firm Jaypee Associates by giving it all civil contracts related to Narmada dam.
In his reply, Nitin Patel defended the firm today by claiming that it has been associated with the dam project since its inception.
"Ever since the first foundation stone of the Narmada project was laid (in late 1960s), the construction contract has been with Jaypee Associates, and it remained the main contractor in subsequent Congress-led state governments, including that of Shankersinh Vaghela (when he was CM). So, his allegation is baseless," Patel said, adding that Jaypee Associates would continue to remain the main contractor.