PM Modi inaugurates country's biggest dam on his 67th birthday

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the country's biggest , on the Narmada river at an event coinciding with his 67th birthday.
PM Modi, who turns 67 today, began his day with a visit to his mother Hiraba at Raisan village near Ahmedabad. After taking her blessings, he headed to Kevadia in Narmada district, where he unveiled the plaque dedicating the Sardar Sarovar dam to the nation.
Gujaratchief minister Vijay Rupani has dubbed the project as "Gujarat's lifeline", noting that the agriculture income and production of farmers in the state more than doubled because of it. The Prime Minister as well had stressed that the project will start a new chapter of prosperity for Gujarat.
"Tomorrow Sardar Sarovar Dam will be dedicated to the nation. This project will benefit lakhs of farmers and help fulfil people's aspirations ," PM Modi had said in a tweet on Saturday.

The foundation stone of the Sardar Sarovar Dam was laid by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on April 5, 1961. But owing to a host of controversies and repeated delays, it took 56 years to complete its construction.
Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan took the government to the Supreme Court over environmental and rehabilitation issues, and obtained a stay in 1996. The court allowed resumption of work in October 2000.
The project has been described as one of the biggest human endeavours for water transport. Up to a billion units of hydropower are also expected to be generated annually. The height of the dam was recently raised to 138.68 metres, which will allow maximum 'usable storage' of 4.73 million acre feet of water.
The inaugural event also sees the culmination of the fortnight-long Narmada Mahotsav - launched by the Gujarat government to celebrate the completion of the project.
After inaugurating the dam, PM Modi will also visit Sadhu Bet to take stock of the work on the 'Statue of Unity' project.
He will then proceed to Dabhoi, where he is to take part in the closing ceremony of the Narmada Mahotsav and address a public meeting.