IN AUGUST 2016, when Vijay Rupani was selected to succeed Anandiben Patel as Gujarat chief minister, it was attributed to his closeness to BJP national president Amit Shah. There were rumours that Rupani would hold the post only till Shah decides to return to Gujarat.
Since taking charge, Rupani had to face challenges like the pro-quota Patel agitation (started in late 2015 and led by Hardik Patel), and floods in north Gujarat. But, the most important challenge was the 2017 assembly elections.
Eventually, the BJP won the majority and Rupani was elected chief minister for another term. In an interview with THE WEEK, Rupani speaks about the achievements of his government, rumours about his ‘resignation’ and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Edited excerpts:
What is the major achievement of your government?
As part of the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan water conservation drive 13,000 ponds were deepened. We cleaned [irrigation] canals totalling a length of 5,000 km, and 32 rivers were recharged. The target was to increase water storage capacity by 11,000 lakh cubic feet, and we achieved 13,000 lakh cubic feet.
The programme was carried out with people’s support. The state government bore half the expenses and the other half was contributed by the people. More than 2,500 NGOs participated. Over 2.75 lakh people were given employment under MGNREGA.
Previous governments also have done this.
No. It has never happened on a mass scale. During Keshubhai Patel’s tenure as chief minister, 1.5 lakh check dams were made. Thereafter, it continued in a piecemeal mode. It was not taken up on a mass scale.
What are the changes you want to bring in the administration?
First is the maximum use of modern technology to provide speedy and transparent administration. Earlier, to get approval for a building plan people had to go many times [to government offices], and had to give bribes. Now, all this has become online and transparent. We have changed the system.
Are you suggesting that these steps were not there during the tenures of Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 05, 2018 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 05, 2018 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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