Ranchi, Dec 28 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones of a dam and irrigation projects in Jharkhand's Palamau district on January 5.

"The Prime Minister will lay foundation stone of the Mandal Dam which was pending since 1972. The dam will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore," said Chief Minister Raghubar Das, while addressing a press conference here on Friday on completion of four years of his government in office.

Das said: "Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat had brought water from the Sabarmati river to the area of Kutch through pipelines and the same model would be replicated in the state. Water from the Soan river would be brought through pipelines to ensure the drinking water and irrigation needs of Palamu and Garhwa districts."

Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the Rs 1,138-crore pipeline drinking and irrigation project.

Das said: "To tide over the issue of drought under the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana, 5,000 ponds will be built in the state for which an agreement has already been inked and the inauguration of the scheme will be done by the Prime Minister on that day."