Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 27 August inaugurated the 'Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar', a newly built water reservoir on the Gagadiyo river near Dudhala village in Amreli district, emphasising water conservation as a critical tool against drought and declining groundwater levels. The reservoir, built by the Dholakia Foundation, spans approximately 21 acres and is designed to improve water availability for agriculture and local communities.

Project Details and Cost

Constructed at an estimated cost of ₹4 crore over an area of 80,000 square feet, the Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar is capable of storing millions of litres of water, according to Shah. The project is expected to recharge groundwater levels and revive wells in the surrounding region, directly benefiting farmers and residents of Amreli district.

The inauguration was attended by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani, Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Vekariya, Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia, MP Bharat Sutariya, and other public representatives and citizens.

Shah on Gujarat's Water Conservation Record

Addressing the gathering, Shah credited the Dholakia family for constructing 208 lakes across the region and praised their river-revival and pond-deepening work. He recalled the construction of 1.5 lakh check dams in Gujarat in 2003 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership as Chief Minister, describing it as a foundational step in the state's water security architecture.

Shah highlighted that the Saurashtra Narmada Avtran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana had enabled surplus rainwater storage and extended Narmada water access to Saurashtra, Kutch, and Khavda. He added that around 10,000 reservoirs in North and Central Gujarat were now being replenished with Narmada water. 'Through the SAUNI Yojana, surplus water has been stored and today Narmada water has reached the entire Saurashtra-Kutch region and up to Khavda,' Shah said.

Jal Shakti Ministry and National Water Goals

Shah noted that the establishment of the Jal Shakti Ministry by Prime Minister Modi had placed heightened focus on water conservation and public participation. He credited the ministry's mandate with driving a 160 per cent increase in irrigation capacity. He urged citizens to conserve every drop of rainwater and actively recharge groundwater to reduce drought vulnerability.

Recognition for Savjibhai Dholakia

Shah praised Savjibhai Dholakia for his public service contributions and referenced his receipt of the Padma Shri, noting that the award came without the recipient applying for it. 'Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna are not honours for families or acquaintances,' Shah said, adding that such distinctions were reserved for those who devoted their lives to public service without seeking recognition.

Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi described the revival of Saurashtra's dried-up rivers as 'an invaluable gift for future generations' and commended Shah's sustained engagement with water conservation, environmental protection, and social development initiatives including tree plantation and village libraries. The Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar is the latest addition to a broader conservation push that has reshaped water access across drought-prone Saurashtra over the past two decades.