As a party worker in his early days, Modi had observed that water shortage was the biggest hurdle in the growth and development of Gujarat. Hence, soon after becoming the Chief Minister, Modi focused his energies on the problem of water scarcity that Gujarat was facing. He committed himself to a mission – ‘Water for All’ to ensure an enhanced quality of life for all the citizens of the state; and in just five years, under his leadership, Gujarat has witnessed a water revolution.

He accelerated the pace of implementation of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project with the dam height today raised to 121.9 metres from 90 metres five years ago, thus making the waters of the Narmada flow all across the state through canals and water transmission lines.

Yet another initiative launched by his Government is the Sujalam Suflam Yojana (literally meaning water for prosperity) which aims to convert the dry and water scarce landscapes of Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat into lush green and flourishing greenscapes. This scheme aims to spread the canal network right from the river Mahi in central Gujarat to the Banas in north Gujarat as well as creating additional storage capacity in various reservoirs and ponds in these areas.

Gujarat was the first state to implement the unique concept of river interlinking. Modi received wide appreciation from one and all when due to his vision, the dried river Saraswati in the northern part of Gujarat, considered very pious, was rejuvenated by bringing the waters of the river Narmada.

He also actively encouraged the application of all kinds of water harvesting, water harnessing and management techniques. Under his visionary leadership, watershed development, construction of check dams, khet talavadis (farm ponds), boribunds (obstructing the flow of water by putting cement filled bags) have become the government’s commitment and a people’s movement.

A statewide drinking water grid is also being established for providing drinking water to more than 14,000 villages and 154 towns. The result is that earlier about 4,000 villages needed to be provided water through tankers which has now reduced to less than 185.