By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Chief Minister Narendra Modi Friday appealed to the people of Gujarat to help build a ‘golden state’ as it approaches the 50th year of its formation in two years.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of Gujarat Gaurav Divas celebrations at Amreli, Modi urged people to help build a “Swarnim Gujarat” by 2010. “Our pledge and resolve would take our Gujarat forward by 5.5 crore (55 million) steps in 700 days,” thundered Modi.
Gujarat has been celebrating its Foundation Day at Amreli for the past one week. On the concluding day Modi gave away awards and certificates to distinguish artists, sports persons, social and charitable institutions. He felicitated as many as 16 outstanding personalities for their selfless social contributions. He also distributed award of excellence to the best
municipalities .
He said that ensuring best health care for children is of great import as they are the future assets. “I would like to see every child healthy and happy,” he said adding. “My government is concerned with nutrition of mother and child and I appeal to citizens to participate in the Nirogi-Bal movement.”
To mark the state level celebrations, Modi gave away Rs.20 million for the development of municipalities and Rs.20 million for rural areas.
Modi assured capital investments of Rs.200 billion in several projects in Amreli. He announced an ambitious LNG terminal at Pipavav, the third terminal of the country, at a cost of Rs.25 billion and also Rs.4.8 billion for the Narmada linked drinking water project for villages in Amreli. He talked of setting up gas grids at Amreli and Rajula at an investment of Rs.1 billion. A new engineering college at Amreli, a new polytechnic at Rajula and a ‘Pragati Path’ connecting the seven cities of Amreli district – all would be taken up at a cost of Rs.1.11 billion. A gas based 700 MW power station was coming up at Pipavav at a cost of Rs.21 billion, Modi said.