On his 67th birthday, PM Modi dedicates Sardar Sarovar Dam to nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who celebrates his 67th birthday today, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation the Sardar Sarovar Dam, in Kevadia, Gujarat, nearly six decades after its foundation stone was laid.

Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit his mother Heeraben Modi, a tradition he has been following over the years, later in the day.

Talking about the dam, an official release says that the increase in the height of the dam will facilitate a usable storage of 4.73 Million Acre Feet (MAF) and will greatly benefit the participating states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The foundation stone of the dam was laid on April 5, 1961 by the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Lal Nehru. However, it took 56 years to complete its construction.

The inaugural event also sees the culmination of the fortnight-long Narmada Mahotsav - launched by the Gujarat government to celebrate the completion of the work.

After inaugurating the dam, he will also visit Sadhu Bet to take stock of the work on the 'Statue of Unity' project.

He will then proceed to Dabhoi, where he is to take part in the closing ceremony of the Narmada Mahotsav and address a public meeting.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the National Tribal Freedom Fighters' Museum.

In Amreli, he will address a gathering of cooperatives, Sahakar Sammelan, inaugurate the market yard of APMC and plant of Amar Dairy, and lay the foundation stone of a honey production centre.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is observing 'Sewa Diwas' to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, as Prime Minister Modi turns 67 today, major political entities sent in their wishes to him, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among many others.

"Birthday wishes to Shri @narendramodi ji. His leadership & tenacity has immensely benefitted the nation. I pray for his long & healthy life," tweeted Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

"Birthday wishes to @PMOIndia @narendramodi Ji," said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

BJP president Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi and congratulated Prime Minister Modi saying he was constantly diligent "towards making India a world Guru again."

Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014 after the BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Modi has hit headlines for having made major policies for the country, which have received varied responses, with few sections welcoming the decisions, while others opposing them.

One of the major economic policies has been the Centre's move of demonetisation in November 2016 that rendered the Rs. 1,000 and 500 notes illegal. The Modi Government also introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017.

Having visited close to 50 countries in three years of his tenure, the Prime Minister's foreign policies have also garnered much attention.

Another mission of his that garnered attention from his allies and opposing parties alike was the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', under which he has been urging the countrymen to keep the nation clean. He appointed several ambassadors, hailing from various walks of the society, for the mission as well.

The BJP, under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, has already started its preparations for the general elections in 2019, in a bid to lengthen its tenure as the ruling party in India.

-ANI