Allocation to SSP doubles to Rs 7,010 crore in Guj budget

Gandhinagar, Feb 25 (PTI) In bid to acceleratecompletion of Sardar Sarovar Project(SSP), Gujarat Governmenttoday doubled the allocation for the mega dam to Rs 7010 crorein the budget for financial year 2011-12.

The provision for SSP in the current financial yearwas at around Rs 3,500 crore. The project aims at expandingirrigation network in Gujarat, where several districts facewater shortage.

The government is yet to build 4,144 Kms branchcanal and 51,168 Kms minor and sub-minor canals for taking thewater to fields of the farmers.

"In order to give priority to irrigation facilities,it has been decided to almost double the allocation for theSardar Sarovar from around Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 7,010 crore,which speaks about our commitment towards farmers," GujaratFinance Minister Vajubhai Vala said, in a statement.

"Under SSP the works of branch canals, distributariesand minor canals in Kutch district will be undertaken at acost of Rs 3,500 crore. Also, works of three pumping stationsin the district will be undertaken at a cost of over Rs 515crore," he said.

Also construction of 470 kilometre long branch canal,distributaries and minor canals in Saurasthra region will beundertaken costing Rs 2,400 crore. .