Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday equated the water conservation initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the construction of lakes and ponds done by Rani Durgavati in Jabalpur in 16th century.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘Amrit Sarovar’ scheme under which focus is to have atleast 75 lakes in each district in the country. The scheme is part of 75th year celebration of the country’s independence, he said.

Chouhan said Rani Durgavati constructed 52 lakes and 84 ponds in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh is best of water conservation.

Chouhan paid tribute at the Samadhi Sthal near village Barhi in Jabalpur district where Rani Durgavati attained martyrdom fighting with the Mughal army in year 1564.

Madhya Pradesh observes June 24 as Balidan Diwas.

He said she (Rani Durgavati) took the decision to have such water bodies while knowing water availability round the year in river Narmada flowing close to Jabalpur holds significance in present social scenario where water consumption has increased many fold today.

The way the lakes were constructed by Rani Durgavati is a classic example of best engineering practice where water overflow of one lake goes to another lake and so on, he said.