DHORDO (GUJARAT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid foundation stones of a desalination plant, a hybrid renewable energy park, and a fully automated milk processing and packing plant in his home state Gujarat.
Harnessing its vast coastline, Gujarat is taking a significant step towards transforming seawater to potable drinking water with the upcoming desalination plant at Mandvi in Kutch district, an official said.
This desalination plant, with 10 crore litre per day capacity (100 MLD), will strengthen water security in Gujarat by complementing Narmada Grid, Sauni network and treated waste water infrastructure, he said.
It will be an important milestone for sustainable and affordable water resource harvesting in the country.
Nearly 8 lakh people across the regions of Mundra, Lakhpat, Abdasa and Nakhatrana talukas will receive desalinated water from this plant, which will also help in sharing the surplus to upstream districts of Bhachau, Rapar and Gandhidham.
It is one of the five upcoming desalination plants in Gujarat besides those at Dahej (100 MLD), Dwarka (70 MLD), Ghogha Bhavnagar (70 MLD) and Gir Somnath (30 MLD).
The Hybrid Renewable Energy Park near Vighakot village in the district will be the country's largest renewable energy generation park.
It will lead to the generation of renewable energy to the tune of 30 GW.
Spread over 72,600 hectares of land, the park will have a dedicated hybrid park zone for wind and solar energy storage, as well as exclusive zone for wind park activities.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of a fully automated milk processing and packing plant at Sarhad Dairy at Anjar.
The plant will cost Rs 121 crore and have the capacity to process two lakh litre milk per day, an official release said.