Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Narmada Water to Kutch Districts

At 19th May 2003, to solve Drinking Water Shortage Problem via pipeline to Gujarat C M Narendra ModiNarmada water Kutch Districts Region.

But, Still Kutch continues to be thirsty every summer.

As I do not know in detail about this matter but want to share with you whom I read online at one of the famous news paper site that,A senior official of the water works department of the Bhuj municipality said in his interview that, "We have not got a single drop of the Narmada piped water for the past four days for this district headquarter town."

“Water is supplied to the town from old tube a well which is insufficient to meet the requirements.”

Gandhinagar based General Manager of the Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited, VJ Papaiyawala said in his interview that, “Water Supply to Kutch had been badly affected along with Rajkot and Jamnagar for the past few days.”

"Kutch and two other districts do not get full supply from the open Narmada canal which comes from Dhanki as farmers along the canal have set up hundreds of illegal pumps to draw water from it for their own use in farms. We are now using our biggest pump and with five big and small pumps in operation, the situation may improve in a day or so"

He said that a meeting had been held with the managing director of the Narmada Nigam Limited, S Jagdisan.

Patrolling along the canal is being beefed up to see that no farmer illegally draws water, he added.

"Our duty is to pump maximum quantity of Narmada water at the main Dhanki pumping centre, which is some 120 km from Malia water works, from where the piped water was distributed in three districts.”

“Despite our labour, if sufficient water does not stay in this long open canal, how can water be pumped into the pipelines which supply water to Kutch, Jamnagar and Rajkot districts? Still, let us see what happens.”

He added that they had already completely stopped supplying piped water to the industries in Kutch to augment drinking water supply.

When informed that this happens every summer, Papaiyawala said that the three districts would have to face water shortage for another summer.

"'As a permanent solution to this perennial problem, we have already put into action a Rs.700 cr plan to lay a pipeline from Dhanki to Malia water works along with the canal so that no farmer can use this 'enclosed' water. We have already invited tenders and it will take one and half year to complete this project."

Jamnagar City Proud - Mohit Bharatbhai Tanna bags gold medal at force training camp

15 years old age Mohit Bharatbhai Tanna who is from Jamnagar City has bagged the first rank in Force Training Camp held Bhonsala Military School, Nasik, which concluded recently.

At least 400 young boys were selected from various parts of the country for the one month camp.

Five boys were selected from Gujarat and Mohit was the only one from Saurashtra.

The boys were trained in shooting, physical fitness, swimming, map reading, Yoga etc.

Mohit was awarded a gold medal, a trophy & a certificate for his excellent performance in the training by colonel (retd) S S Sherawat, according to a release here.

As per Latest his interviews about this award, he said that, "I learnt a lot about the armed forces, discipline and physical training in the camp. I want to join the armed forces."

He comes from a well-known business family of Jamnagar.

Rajkot Surendranagar Districts Cotton Industries - Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited

Cotton growers along the command area of the Maliya branch canal in Rajkot and Surendranagar districts are on a confrontationist course with the canal management and state administration for the last two days.

Farmers, faced with the prospect of their cotton crops drying up due to lack of irrigation water and delayed monsoon, are openly violating the state government’s orders of not lifting water from the canal as its water is meant to meet drinking water needs of towns in Rajkot, Jamnagar and Kutch districts, and for industrial purposes.

As per Latest Dhirubhai Bhimani Interviews who is Rajkot district BKS secretary said that, “Farmers are ready to pay the water charges, but denial of water to farmers cannot be tolerated.’’

N M Soniwal who is superintending engineer at Maliya branch canal for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) said that, “There is not enough water available for irrigation.’’

“Also with Bt cotton giving good yield and cotton prices shooting up, farmers are going for early sowing and hence, putting up pressure on the government to lift water during May - June.’’
To prevent unauthorized water lifting from the canal, the SSNNL has deployed hundreds of armed and mounted police doing round-the-clock patrolling along the canal.

The canal sentries have been seizing water lifting equipments and destroying water pipes amounting to crores of rupees every year.

The SSNNL had been using force and last year brutally beat up dozens of farmers who tried to draw water from the canal.

The farmers, backed by Mahagujarat Janata Party and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, have openly challenged the state government and begun drawing water “illegally’’ to irrigate their cotton fields despite the state government promulgating Section 144 of CrPC banning assembly of four or more than four persons on the canal.

The Maliya police had also detained MJP president Gordhan Zadaphia, but was released within an hour after thousands of farmers surrounded the Maliya Police Station and tension began building up in the area.

“It is not acceptable as farmers have more claim over the water than the industries and the state government must revise its policy from being solely industry-driven to a balanced growth of all sections.’’

He pointed out that the Narmada River Water Disputes Redressal Tribunal had allocated more than 85 per cent of the water for irrigation purposes.

“So, it is totally unjustified to deprive farmers of the Narmada water,’’ he claimed.

Paying no heed to the state government’s advice, local farmers began sowing at least a month before the arrival of the monsoon as it results in early maturity of the cotton crop and their fields become available for the Jeera and Saunf during the winter.

Farmers say that if they don’t go for early sowing of cotton, it will be a huge financial loss to them, running into hundreds of crores of rupees.

Jamnagar Brass Industries News - get technical support from Gujarat Technological University

The Gujarat Technological University – GTU and the local industry body, Jamnagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry - JCCI have come forward to resolve challenges faced by small and medium enterprises of brass components makers in Jamnagar Districts.

First batch of students from the university is expected to visit Jamnagar City in July as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard has already been signed with the GTU.

The joint initiative is aimed at improving productivity and bringing process innovation for the brass-parts industry.

GTU Innovation Council - a joint venture between Gujarat Technological University and Ahmedabad-based Techpedia will establish close linkages with industries and businesses.

This will also make research and development at the university more relevant to the needs of industries at national and international levels.

The initiative will involve students to provide technical assistance for quality and innovation in the brass-components manufacturing.

As per Latest Prashant Maharshi Interviews who is industry expert and a former office bearer at JCCI said that,"There are several challenges for the brass-parts industry in Jamnagar, mainly on the production front. The market is very large and still most of the units operate manually with nearly 400,000 people depending on brass-components manufacturing. We need to be more professional and competitive in the international market."

Both will set up an innovation sankul (cluster) in Jamnagar focusing on the innovations for the brass-parts manufacturing activity.

Hiranmay Mahanta from Techpedia which an organization led by Anil Gupta who is senior professor of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) said that,"Students from different departments from GTU will visit the SMEs in Jamnagar City and will identify the problems faced by them. The students will come out with ideas to resolve these problems. A prototype of these ideas may be created and will also be protected by the intellectual property right for the student."

Nearly 5,000 units of brass-components manufacturers will benefit from the academic participation. The brass components are mainly used in all the electronic and industrial components.

Mahanta further informed that the step would create a management system using the existing structures and facilities.

The initiative is a part of the GTU Innovation Council's programme to involve students to prepare a report on the challenges faced by the industry and come out with a scientific solution.

Jamnagar District News – About First Sewage Treatment Plant

India's first National Center of Marine Bio-diversity (NCMB) will be set up in Jamnagar to promote activities in respect of coastal and marine eco-systems of the country.

Minister of environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh also announced, here on Wednesday, that Jamnagar will be given Rs 90 crore to set up the sewage treatment plant.

For the NCMB project, Reliance has joined hands with the government, said Jairam adding that he had already talked to Mukesh Ambani who agreed to contribute to this project. In this way, it would be a public-private partnership project. The central government would grant Rs20 crore and Reliance would contribute Rs10 crore for NCMB, he informed.

"We don't take care of our coastal areas and marine assets as we should", said Ramesh, while talking on the need to take such initiatives in this direction. He confessed that the governments fell short of paying attention on the 7,500km long coastline of the country.

Activities like research, education and training would be taken up to control pollution and protect the marine life, apart from taking initiatives for the betterment in the life of the communities residing on the costal belt, he said.

Under Integrated Coastal Belt Project of Rs1, 200 crore, the central government has granted Rs300 crore for Gujarat for this purpose, from which 70% of the amount would be spent in Jamnagar District only, he said.

Without naming the state government, Jairam Ramesh said, "I was shocked when I came to know that a big city like Jamnagar does not have sewage treatment plant." He announced Rs90 crore for such a plant for Jamnagar.

Talking about the biggest region of the state Kutch, Jairam Ramesh said that an Oversight Monitoring Committee will be formed for the protection of environment of the entire Gulf of Kutch which would monitor whether any development project takes place on the ecological sustainable ground. The notification of the committee would be out within three weeks, he said.

"The ministry of Environment and Forests also is spending Rs25 crore to set up an Eco Memorial in Dandi in the name of the father of the nation", he informed.

R C Faldu Gujarat State BJP President - unveil spelt flyover's 2nd part

Gujarat State BJP president Ranchhodbhai Chhanabhai Faldu (R C Faldu) unveiled the second part of the split flyover bridge constructed on 150 feet Ring Road few days ago.

Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala and other political leaders will also grace the function.

The 1.35 km-long flyover has been constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the city and is a part of the first phase of the 10.70 km Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project (Blue Corridor) from Gondal Road-Ring Road junction to Jamnagar Road.

The 150-feet Ring Road is among the busiest roads in the city as it is a bypass road connecting traffic from Gondal Road to Jamnagar Road.

The flyover will ease the traffic on it which passes busy crossroads as well.

The entire BRTS project will be implemented in three corridors (Blue, Green and Red) in phased manner.

The total length of the BRTS project is 63.50 km.

Bet Dwarka Dwarkadheesh Mandir Jamnagar New Look Gujarat India 2011

Bet Dwarka which is one of the most popular tourist attractions near the Dwarkadheesh temple in Jamnagar district is all set to be developed along the lines of the stunningly beautiful beach resorts in Malaysia.

Malaysia has developed several of its islands into exotic tourist resorts to boost the country’s tourism scene. The picturesque beaches there attract thousands of visitors, both local and foreign every year.

Now, Bet Dwarka, believed to be the original abode of Lord Krishna according to the archaeological ruins excavated here, is poised to become the tourism hotspot of the state. The Bet Island is famous for its marine life as people throng here to watch the dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and starfish.

Located nearly 30 kms away from Dwarka town, the island does not have hotels and resorts as of now. So, pilgrims and visitors who spend time at the beaches here manage their stay in the hotels in the town.

Now, the state government proposes to develop eco resorts here besides planting trees and developing mangrove plantations.

According to sources in the state tourism department, the Bet Island will have an ocean park like the one in Hong Kong, a marine attraction similar to Dolphin Cove in Jamaica and several water sporting activities.

The central and the state government plan to develop a National Coral Marine Zone (similar to the one in Australia) here.

A camping site will also be developed at Sundarvan, a nature discovery center in Bet Dwarka.

The island, also known as Bet Shankhodhar, will have a giant statue of Lord Krishna.

The Bet has 31 temples and several mosques and gurudwaras. Other important attractions in the Bet are Hanuman Dandi and the Padmeshwar Mahadev Temple, where state government is planning to develop a sunset point for visitors.

As per Latest Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas Interviews, he said that, “The blueprint of Bet Dwarka development project is ready. The makeover of the island will be done in public-private partnership. Central government is also helping us develop the island. The project is expected to be completed by December next year.”

Rajkot Municipal Corporation - Mercedes-Benz bus to soon run on BRTS corridor

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) is all set for a trial run of the Mercedes Benz bus on the first phase of 10.70 km Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on 150 Ring Road in the city.

Last week officials of Mercedes-Benz had come to the city and imparted training to six fire brigade personnel on how to operate the special buses.


The 60 - Seater AC bus will be run on trial and RMC has sent an agreement to the bus manufacturing company as they are providing a trial run free of cost.

The trial run will be carried out in the next week as they have already set the deadline to run buses on BRTS track before June 30.

Gujarat State News - 42.6% population is urban

According to the 2011 census figures, Gujarat's urban population is now 42.6 per cent, or 2.57 crore, of the state's total.

Thanks to rapid growth in industrial and service sectors over the last one decade, Gujarat is set to break all its previous records of urbanization.

No doubt, urbanization in Gujarat has been on the rise ever since Gujarat was founded 50 years ago.

However, the latest figures suggest the state's urbanization is the highest ever.

Previous figures suggest, 28.08 per cent of Gujarat's population lived in urban areas in 1971.

It rose to 31.1 per cent in 1981, further to 34.49 per cent in 1991 and 37.36 per cent in 2001.

"Only two states - Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra - are more urbanized than Gujarat", a senior state bureaucrat said, adding, "Tamil Nadu's urban population has been put at 46 per cent of the total, while that of Maharashtra's at 45 per cent."

Saurashtra Kutch Districts - Pass percentage in Gujarat State Average

The pass percentage of the Saurashtra Kutch region was slightly less than the overall state result.

While the average pass percentage of the state was 69.16, the same for the region comprising eight districts was 66.16.

District-wise, Surendranagar registered the second best pass rate in the state at 80.12 per cent while Rajkot stood fourth with 76.03 per cent.

Students from the desert district of Kutch fared well, as a result of which the district registered pass percentage of 70.32.

Amreli recorded the lowest pass percentage in the region with little over 56, followed by Porbandar (58.86 per cent), Jamnagar (60 per cent), Junagadh (61 per cent) and Bhavnagar (67 per cent). Centre wise, Mahuva in Bhavnagar recorded the highest pass rate at 88.12 per cent, followed by Dhoraji in Rajkot, which registered 83.84 per cent result.

Pass percentage in urban centers, including Rajkot City, Jamnagar City, Bhavnagar City, Surendranagar City, Junagadh City, Porbandar City and Kutch, remained between 71 and 58. Rajkot District saw the maximum number of students (35) securing A grade (91 to 100 per cent) in the region, followed by Bhavnagar (25), Surendranagar (16), Kutch (11), Junagadh (9), and Jamnagar (7).

In Amreli and Porbandar Districts, no student could get the highest grade.

Most of the students from across the eight districts got Grade C1 (51 to 60 per cent).