Gujarat’s growth anchored in sustainability, says Dy CM Harsh Sanghavi

Ahmedabad, Feb 24: Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the state’s development model is firmly rooted in environmental sustainability, asserting that preservation of nature remains a top priority for both the state government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He made the remarks while interacting with a delegation of journalists from Jammu visiting Gujarat under a tour organised by the Press Information Bureau. The meeting was held at the state Secretariat in the presence of PIB officials.

Highlighting Gujarat’s economic strength, Sanghavi said the state contributes 18.3 per cent to India’s manufacturing output and nearly 30 per cent of the country’s exports. Around 40 per cent of India’s cargo is handled through Gujarat’s ports, he added, noting that several mega infrastructure and industrial projects are in the pipeline.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of making Gujarat an automobile hub, he said the goal, first articulated in 2007, is steadily taking shape, with major manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki expanding operations in the state. Despite rapid industrialisation, Sanghavi stressed that development projects are undertaken with due regard to environmental protection. He said the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has planted one million saplings this season, including through innovative methods like drone-based seed ball dispersal in difficult terrains.

He further claimed that Gujarat currently derives 65 per cent of its energy consumption from renewable sources, ranking first among Indian states in renewable energy utilisation, as part of efforts toward a “Green Gujarat”. Sanghavi said Gujarat’s transformation is the result of decades of consistent planning and policy-driven governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.