Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation on his 67th birthday on Sunday. The dam, which is world’s second biggest,  will generate up to a billion units of hydropower annually.

Earlier, the PM also visited his mother Heeraben Modi to take her blessings, a tradition he has been following over the years.

Modi will also review the ‘Statue of Unity’ project — a 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

As per a release issued on Saturday, the height of the dam was recently raised to 138.68 metres, which 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.

It said that the project has helped transport the waters of the Narmada river to the water-deficient areas of Gujarat through an elaborate canal and pipeline network.

“Irrigation from the project is expected to benefit about 10 lakh farmers and drinking water to be supplied to various villages and towns is likely to benefit up to 4 crore people,” the release said.

The project has been described as one of the biggest human endeavours for water transport.

From the dam site, the Prime Minister will travel to Sadhu Bet, where the Statue of Unity, an iconic statue and associated memorial complex for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is currently under construction.

“The Prime Minister will be given an overview of the progress of work on this project. The project comprises a 182 metre tall statue, an exhibition hall, a memorial garden, and a Visitor Centre,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The Prime Minister will attend the closing ceremony of the Narmada Mahotsav and address the gathering at Dabhoi.

He will lay the foundation stone for the National Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum during the event.

The Prime Minister will later visit Amreli, where he will inaugurate a new market yard of APMC. He will also inaugurate new plants of Amar Dairy, and lay the foundation stone of a honey production centre. He will address a Sahakar Sammelan at Amreli.

(With inputs from IANS)