Gandhinagar

Bhupendra Patel on Saturday called upon tribal regions to take the lead in building a developed Gujarat as part of Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Patel made the remarks while inaugurating the Tapi–Karjan Link Pipeline Lift Irrigation Scheme, which will provide irrigation to about 53,750 acres of land across 73 tribal villages in Umarpada in Surat district and Dediapada in Narmada district in South Gujarat.

The lift irrigation scheme, based on the Ukai Dam reservoir project, has been built at a cost of ₹651.08 crore. Patel also laid the e-foundation stone for an extension of the project worth ₹208.51 crore, which will extend irrigation benefits to an additional 19,141 acres across 29 villages in Umarpada taluka.

In the presence of Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, Tribal Development Minister Nareshbhai Patel and Minister of State for Water Supply Ishwarsinh Patel, the chief minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for around 12 development projects worth ₹126 crore in Surat district.

Patel distributed certificates to beneficiaries under the Forest Rights Act and provided assistance under schemes including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, along with support for warehouses and tractors.

He said the lift irrigation project represented a major engineering achievement, noting that water is lifted through pipelines from a height equivalent to about 87 floors to irrigate tribal regions.

Highlighting tribal welfare initiatives, Patel said programmes like Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana have improved access to education, healthcare, roads, housing, electricity and water across the tribal belt from Ambaji to Umargam.

He also referred to a ₹2 lakh crore tribal development initiative announced on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas marking the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, aimed at accelerating infrastructure and welfare projects in tribal areas over five years.

During the event, Patel paid tribute to former state minister and Umreth MLA Govindbhai Parmar.

Speaking at the programme, Tribal Development Minister Nareshbhai Patel said the government is working to ensure irrigation facilities even in remote areas so that farmers can cultivate multiple crops and improve their livelihoods.

Minister of State for Water Resources Ishwarsinh Patel said villages in Umarpada and Dediapada are located at higher elevations, which earlier created water shortages for winter and summer crops despite high rainfall. The new lift irrigation scheme aims to resolve the decades-old issue.

READ MORE: Mumtaz Thaha, Thrissur’s first Muslim woman Councillor

Members of Parliament Prabhubhai Vasava and Mansukh Vasava also attended the programme and said improved irrigation facilities would open new opportunities for prosperity among tribal farmers in the region.