PM Modi inaugurates Narmada canal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Narmada canal that will bring water to Kutch from the Narmada Sarovar dam in south Gujarat.

About Narmada River:

• The Narmada, the largest Westwardflowing river, rises near the Amarkantak range of mountains in Madhya Pradesh.
• It is the fifth largest river in the country and the largest one in Gujarat.
• It traverses Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat and meets the Gulf of Cambay.  
• The total length of the river from source to sea is 1312 kilometers(815 miles).
  
  

Narmada canal and branches

• This project will cover Saurashtra, Kachchh as well as parts of North Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Panchmahal).

Need for the initiative

• To boost the agricultural sector.
• To expand the dairy industry.

Why Kutch is strategic for Gujarat?

• Kutch had the largest cement plants in the world.
• It stood second in the world in welding pipe manufacturing. 
• Also holds the world’s second-largest textile plant and it also houses Asia’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Mundra.
• Kandla and Mundra ports handle 30% of India’s cargo, and the district produces 30% of the country’s salt.
• Kutch produces 2,500 MW of power from solar and wind energy.