Sardar Sarovar Dam an 'engineering miracle', World Bank refused to fund: PM Modi after inauguration

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat's Kevadia on his 67th birthday today.

Whileaddressing a public rally at Dabhoi, near Ahmedabad, PM Modi said the project faced many hurdles. He called the dam"engineering miracle" which many people had "conspired to stop".

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"Sardar Sarovar will become a symbol of India's new and emerging power and propel growth in the region ... the project is an engineering miracle," PM Modi said.

He said that when the World Bank refused to fund the project, it was the temples of Gujarat which came forward to give money.

"A massive misinformation campaign was launched against the project. The World Bank which had earlier agreed to fund the project, refused to give loan for it raising environmental concerns. But, with or without the World Bank, we completed the massive project on our own," he said.

The prime minister said the dam would benefit not only the farmers of Gujarat but also "change the fate" of farmers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The project began in 1961 when its foundation stone was laid by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The height of the dam has been raised to 138.68 metres from the existing 121.92 metres and its storage capacity was increased to 4.73 million acre-feet of water.

PM Modi also remembered India's first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel and father of the Indian Constitution Dr Ambedkar "who as Minister gave great importance to irrigation and waterways."

The Indian prime minister dedicated the Statue of Liberty to Sardar Patel and said it would be a tribute to the leader from Gujarat who "did not get the credit he deserved after independence, for whatever reasons."

He said the statue, which faces the Narmada Dam and is surrounded by an artificial lake "will draw tourists from all over."

The 597 feet Statue of Unity in height, is located, 3.2 km on the river island called Sadhu Bet.

The event was attended by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and BJP president Amit Shah along with Union surface transport, shipping and water resources minister, Nitin Gadkari.

The Congress party has raised questions about who will benefit from the dam.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said: "I want to ask as to who will get benefited from this dam? Will it benefit the small farmers who are not getting irrigation; will it benefit the villagers whose homes have been taken away because of its construction? Will there be proper relief and rehabilitation? Will the small industries, which are crumbling under demonetisation will they get benefits of the electricity. Or, will the only big companies which are close to the ruling party will get? I think time will tell and we will keep a close and watchful eye."