CHAPTER 3. PROFILE OF PROJECT INFLUENCE
AREA AND STATE
3.1
CORRIDOR IN CONTEXT
Project corridor traverses through Jetpur taluka of Rajkot district which further runs across
Junagadh district through, Vanthali, Keshod, Veraval and connects the holy place of lord
SOMNATH temple right on the sea coast at Veraval-Somnath.
Project Corridor
Jetpur-Somnath National Highway
(NH 8D)
Chainage
From
To
0
127.350
Total Project length
(km)
127.350
The Project corridor also provides connectivity to the Saurashtra coastline and the ports. Apart
from connectivity considerations, the development of corridor is perceived to be crucial from the
perspective of enhanced mobility levels. Also with time more importantly it may help towards
achieving the development of the state and Saurashtra region in particular. NH 8D at present
vested with Ministry and taken care by Roads and Buildings Department, GoG, which was
upgraded from State Highway, looking to its regional and strategic importance. Project corridor
and road network system is presented through Figure 3-1.
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Figure 3-1: Project Corridor and Road Network System
3.2
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
The state of Gujarat comprises of five defined regions. They are North, Central, South Gujarat,
Kutchh and Saurashtra regions. (Figure 3-2)
Regional Importance

Saurashtra, the project region, has exhibited its importance in state’s development and is pivotal to the
Gujarat’s growing economy. So contributing well towards national growth.

As can be seen the corridor enhances the connectivity within the region, especially ports, tourism and
pilgrim centers within the influence regions. Considering its influence on the region, the corridor is one
of the road transport trunks within Saurashtra.

Rich in agriculture

Narmada water now being made available for irrigation

Availability of Jetties, ports, fishing harbors

Projects likely to come to make the region center of marine excellence, agro-parks to ensure value
addition to agriculture

Proposed/committed investment in textiles, agro, auto mobiles, gems and jewelry, chemicals etc.
3.3
STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE
The corridor has a strategic significance from national perspective as well as it connects
economic activity centers, tourism centers falling in the region. Also establishes connectivity with
the long coast line and number of SEZ’s of Gujarat (Figure 3-3 shows the strategic importance of
the corridor)
Ports
Figure 3-2: Corridor and Regional Connectivity
Figure 3-3: Strategic Positioning of Corridor
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3.4
CONNECTIVITY WITH MAJOR GROWTH CENTERS AND STATE HIGHWAYS
As far as connectivity is concerned in total there are about ten (10) state highways which are
directly connecting to the project corridor. It gives an indirect impact on urban centers which are
connected through these state highways and direct impact on settlements which are along the
corridor. The Project corridor also connects major centres of the Saurasthra region viz.,
Porbandar, Rajkot and Jamnagar on the northern end of the corridor via Jetpur through NH 8B
and connects Bhavnagar through NH-8E. It provides connectivity to the Saurashtra coastline and
few minor ports. Figure 3-4 presents the state highway and urban center connected through the
project corridor.
Figure 3-4: Road network hierarchy connected to the project corridor.
3.5
3.5.1
PROFILE OF PROJECT INFLUENCE AREA AND STATE
Project Corridor- Network and Influence Area
The project corridor is situated in Saurashtra region, which passes through Rajkot and Junagadh
districts and the corridor influence talukas starts from Jetpur and Dhoraji of Rajkot district,
traverses through talukas viz., Bhesan, Junagadh, Vanthali, Manavadar, Keshod, Mendarda,
Malia, Mangrol, and ends at Somnath, a holy place of lord Shiva in Veraval Taluka of Junagadh
district. The corridor plays an important role for the traffic plying from Central Gujarat, North
Gujarat and several parts across the country for the purpose to visit pilgrim and tourism places in
the district of Junagadh. The corridor also caters the traffic to several industries located on the
southern coastline of saurashtra region. Project corridor and influence area is presented through
Figure 3-5. The study corridor traverses through eleven talukas including three Class I
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settlements. Table 3-1 explains the name of the talukas and number of villages which corridor is
traversing.
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Figure 3-5: Corridor Influence Talukas
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Table 3-1: Project corridor influence talukas and number of villages
S.No.
Study Area
District
Taluka
No. of Villages
1
Project Corridor Influence Area
Rajkot
Jetpur
31
Dhoraji
7
Junagadh
Bhesan
7
Junagadh
Vanthali
Manavadar
22
30
7
Keshod
Mendarda
Malia
30
6
30
Mangrol
17
Veraval
16
Total
203
Source: Census of India, 2007
3.6
SOCIO ECONOMIC PROFILE
Socio-economic characteristics of the project influence region would normally have a bearing on
the present traffic and would further influence the traffic levels even in the future. Given this, the
socio-economic profile of the project influence area has been studied and presented in brief in
the ensuing sections.
3.6.1
Demographic Characteristics
Gujarat state has been experiencing a relatively higher population growth rates, as compared to
the rest of India. Saurashtra constitutes 24% of the total population of Gujarat. The population
growth rate of the region is less as compared to the state average. (Table 3-2)
Table 3-2: Population Growth Profile of the Study region
Gujarat
Saurashtra
Population (Mi)
AAGR
Population (Mi)
AAGR
1971
26.7
–
6.65
–
1981
34.09
2.47%
8.55
2.55%
1991
41.31
1.94%
10.02
1.60%
2001
50.67
2.06%
11.92
1.76%
Source: Census of India 2001& Socio-Economic Review Gujarat State 2003-04
Year
India
Population (Mi)
548.16
683.33
846.3
1027.02
AAGR
–
2.23%
2.16%
1.95%
Substantial variations are seen in the population growth rates across the districts. Within
Saurashtra, Rajkot has the highest growth rate of population (Figure 3-6). High urbanisation
levels can be said to be the major reason for such high growth rates in these districts. This
aspect is further discussed in the subsequent sections. In terms of the density of population,
Central Gujarat shows higher density as compared to Saurashtra (Figure 3-7).
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Jetpur
Jetpur
Jetpur
AAGR (%)
Population Density
Somnath
Somnath
Figure 3-6: Population AAGR of the Districts
3.6.2
(Persons
/
Sq.Km
Somnath
Figure 3-7: Population Density of the Districts
Urbanisation Pattern and Growth Trends
Gujarat has an urbanization level of 37.4%, higher than all India average of 27.8% (2001). Most
of the districts of Saurashtra have higher urbanisation levels as compared to the state average.
In Saurashtra; Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar districts are having high urbanisation levels (Figure
3-8 and 3-9). A large number of urban centres in Saurashtra are having major urban
agglomerations. These include Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Junagadh.
Jetpur
Jetpur
Somnath
Somnath
Figure 3-8: Urbanization Levels in Districts
3.7
Figure 3-9: Urban Centers in Districts
ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE INFLUENCE AREA AND STATE
Agriculture is the backbone of the district economy of Junagadh. 70% of the population is
engaged in primary sector, 22% in secondary sector and 8% in tertiary sector. Major crops
produced in the district Junagadh are wheat, oilseeds, cotton, mango, banana, onion and brinjal.
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Fish processing industry is a major sector in Junagadh. Processed fishes from Junagadh are
exported to Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Dubai and other parts of the world. The
industrial giant Hindustan Lever Ltd. has a frozen fish packing unit in Maliya taluka of the
Junagadh district.
Presence of huge reserves of Limestone makes the cement industry a thriving industrial sector in
the district. The major business of Junagadh district includes, Mineral based industries such as,
cement and soda ash, agriculture based industries like edible oil, groundnut oil units, solvent
plants and oil cakes and marine based industries like fish processing units and frozen fish.
3.7.1
Worker Characteristics
The Workforce Participation Rate (WPR) of
state in 1971 was 32% which now (in 2001)
has gone up to nearly 42%. Both male and
female work participation rates are healthy
trends of growth. The District level work
force participation rates in Saurashtra region
is low as compared to state average and
also than districts in Central Gujarat. The low
WPR is due to high urbanization level
(Figure: 3-10).
3.7.2
Sectoral Income
Figure 3-10 Work Force Participation Rate
by Districts-2001
An assessment of the sectoral composition
of the NSDP and GDP has been done to assess the major economic characteristics of the state.
The sectoral composition of Gujarat shows that the secondary i.e. the manufacturing sector of
the state is very strong. Nearly 38% of the NSDP is constituted by the secondary sector (Table 33). For the country as a whole, the same is only around 27%. Manufacturing is therefore, an
important economic activity in Gujarat. A detailed description of the type of industrial
development in the state and the project influence area has been done in the subsequent
sections.
Table 3-3: Sectoral Composition of NSDP and GDP (% of Total)
Year
93-94
94-95
95-96
96-97
97-98
98-99
99-00
2000-01
Primary
26.88
31.13
26.66
30.69
28.1
27.7
19.81
18.28
Gujarat
Secondary
33.29
32.69
34.7
33.72
31.6
31.81
35.44
33.74
Tertiary
39.83
36.18
38.64
35.6
40.3
40.49
44.75
47.98
Primary
29.50
29.68
27.64
28.05
26.44
26.83
24.00
24.44
India
Secondary
24.88
21.18
22.27
22.05
22.34
22.01
27.00
26.67
Tertiary
45.62
49.15
50.08
49.91
51.24
51.16
49.00
48.89
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Year
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06*
2006-07
Primary
21.84
17.58
23.30
20.07
19.94
18.22
Gujarat
Secondary
30.84
34.99
32.89
34.65
36.52
37.78
Tertiary
47.32
47.43
43.81
45.28
43.54
44.00
Primary
24.36
21.86
22.18
20.78
19.91
17.23
India
Secondary
25.16
25.94
25.74
26.00
26.08
27.13
Tertiary
50.48
52.20
52.08
53.22
54.01
55.60
*Revised percentage as per the new series 1999-2000 prices
Source: State Domestic Product of Gujarat State 2006-07
3.7.3
Industrial development
The State has achieved diversification in industrial base and has gained importance in production
of chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles, mineral based industries, food processing and others.
Gujarat has also achieved industrial dispersal to a large extent registering impressive
development in different districts of the State. Saurashtra region accounts a share of 17.5 % of
the total working industries. Table 3-4 shows the number of working industries in the Saurashtra
regions.
Table 3-4: Industries in Saurashtra region
State/Region/District
Gujarat
Saurashtra
Rajkot
Jamnagar
Porbandar
Junagadh
Amreli
Bhavnagar
Anand
No. of Working Industries
19661
Average No. of Workers
815462
3448
1724
406
47
250
36
429
556
122644
44706
17155
3542
17342
2643
19342
17914
In the influence region (district as a whole) the working industries are of four major types i.e.
Food products, basic chemicals and chemical product (except petroleum and coal), Cotton textile
and non metallic mineral products.
Fig 2-11 shows the industrial clusters in the state. In Saurashtra alone, there are three industrial
clusters viz., Bhavnagar, Porbandar-Jamnagar-Veraval and Rajkot cluster.
In total there are over 40 medium and large scale industries, present in Junagadh district, such
as, Cement plants, edible oil, refinery plants and fish processing units. Most of the medium and
large scale industries are concentrated in Veraval, Junagadh, Manavadar and Kodinar talukas of
the district.
In addition to the major industries there are 7,000 Small Scale Industries operating in Junagadh
district in sectors which includes food products, chemicals, electrical equipments, textiles and
repairing & servicing. Maximum number of SSI units (3,018 Units) related to repairing & servicing
is located in Junagadh followed by food products industry with over 503 units. Most of the small
scale industries are located in Junagadh, Keshod, Veraval, Manavadar, Kodinar and Mangrol
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talukas of the district. Some of the medium and large scale players present in Junagadh district
are mentioned in Table 3-5.
Table 3-5: Medium and Large Scale Industries in Junagadh
Name of the Industry
Agro Marine Export Ltd.
Indian Rayon and Industries Ltd
Gujarat Siddi Cement Ltd
Narmada Agro Chemicals Ltd
Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd.
Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd
Hindustan Lever Ltd
Austin Engineering Ltd
Creative castings Ltd
Gujarat Dairy development Corporation Ltd
Source: Junagadh district profile 2006-07
3.7.4
Taluka
Junagadh
Veraval
Veraval
Mangrol
Kodinar
Sutrapada
Maliya
Bhesan
Junagadh
Junagadh
Production
Marine products
Chemicals
Ordinary Portland cement
Super Phosphate granulation
Portland cement
Soda ash
Frozen Fish pack
Ball and bearing products
Alloy steel castings
Pasteurized milk and butter
Minerals and Mining
The known minerals wealth of Junagadh district is substantial though less diversified than in a
few other mineral district of the state. The minerals are found in all talukas of the district except in
the talukas of Manavadar, Visvadar and Mangrol. Various types of major and minor minerals viz
Calcite, Marl Clay, Lime Stone etc are available in the district. Majority of the minerals depends
on the corridor to export it to the various parts of the state. (Table 3-6)
Table 3-6: Mineral Production in the Junagadh District
Products
S.No
Major Products
1
Calcite
2
3
1988-1999
Production
Income
(MT)
(Lakhs)
1999-2000
Production
Income
(MT)
(Lakhs)
2000-2001
Production
Income
(MT)
(Lakhs)
-
-
28
0.04
Marl Clay
1383229
8.25
1732286
23.69
1268537
15.82
Lime Stone
5896200
1913.92
5053748
1892.44
5032239
1881.99
Total
7279457
1922.21
6786034
1916.13
6300776
1897.81
557892
76.55
429863
64.17
374558
67.05
Grand Total
7837349
1998.76
Source: Commissioner ate of Geology and Mining
7215897
1980.30
6675334
1964.86
4
3.7.5
Miner Products
0.00
0.00
Ports
Gujarat has the longest coastline of 1600 km, amongst all the states of India. This provides the
state with major advantage of having the largest share of ports in the country. In all, there are 41
ports, of which the port at Kandla is the major port. Saurashtra handles about 816 lakh tones of
cargo of the state (2006-07). The ports in Saurashtra include Navlakhi, Bedi, Sikka, Okha, Mul
(Dwarka), Porbandar, Veraval, Jafrabad, Pipavav and Bhavnagar. (Table 3-7) (Figure 3-11).
Junagadh district is bounded on its south and west by the Arabian Sea and has some important
ports on its long coast line. At present there is only one intermediate port, Veraval, and four
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minor ports viz. Mangrol, Navabandar, Rajpara and Simar. Fish, fertilizer, limestone and other
minerals etc, are exported through these ports. The movement of cargo to and fro from these
ports constitutes the major traffic in this region. Along the project corridor, the goods movement
is mainly to Veraval port.
PALANPUR
RANN OF KACHCHH
PATAN
KOTESHWAR
MEHSANA
LITTLE RANN
OF KACHCHH
BHUJ
HIMATNAGAR
GANDHINAGAR
JAKHAU PORT
AHMEDABAD
NAVALAKHI
PORT
DAHOD
KANDLA
MANDVI
SURENDRANAGAR
NEW MUNDRA PORT
JODIYA
OKHAPORT
ANAND
BEDI
BETT
GODHRA
NADIAD
JAMNAGAR
SIKKA
RAJKOT
VADODARA
KHAMBHAT
SALAYA
PINDHARA
NANDOD
BHAVNAGAR
AMRELI
BHAVNAGAR
GOGHA
JUNAGADH
TALAJA
MADHAVPUR
LEGEND
KOTADA
MANGROL
MAHUVA
Somnath
PIPAVAV PORT
RAJPARA
MUL DWARKA
BHAGWA
SURAT
MAGDALIA
HAZIRA
BORSI
VERAVAL
MAJOR PORT
BHARUCH
DAHEJ
BHARUCH
GULF OF KHAMBHAT
Jetpur
PORBANDAR
MAROLI
NAVSARI
ONJAL
BILIMORA
JAFARABAD
NAVABANDAR
VALSAD
AHWA
UMARSADI
INTERMEDIATE PORT
KOLAK
MINOR PORT
DADRA
UMBARGAON
DADRA AND
NAGAR HAVELI
Figure 3-11: Location of Ports in Gujarat
Table 3-7: Cargo Handled (Lakh Tonnes) by Ports in Gujarat and Saurashtra
District
Intermediate
Ports
2000-01
2001-02
Rajkot
Navlakhi
16.21
17.34
11.7
Bedi
32.68
30.9
28.35
Sikka
407.86
471.95
458.1
Jamnagar
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
8.55
12.5
18.22
17.68
29.05
32.37
44.38
41.65
498.2
515.1
521.53
602.52
Okha
14.83
12.57
14.85
12.15
14.41
12.78
32.03
Mul(Dwarka)
30.2
32.6
38.43
37.77
39.26
38.49
40.78
Porbandar
Porbandar
5.87
10.36
13.34
14.49
22.87
20.71
24.69
Junagadh
Veraval
0.53
0.23
0.1
0
0.36
0.47
0.57
Jafrabad
39.32
40.36
41.24
45.16
46.02
43.64
55.03
Pipava (GPPL)
19.09
15.61
14
19.42
NA
NA
NA
Bhavnagar
4.33
4.16
6.34
3.54
2.79
2.33
1.75
570.92
636.08
626.45
668.33
685.68
702.55
816.7
Amreli
Bhavnagar
Total
Source: Gujarat Maritime Board, Gandhinagar
3.7.6
Tourism
Saurashtra boasts some of the major tourist locations, which includes Junagadh, Rajkot,
Jamnagar, Porbandar, etc. Apart from archaeological heritage, there is Gir National park, the
Asiatic lion is the key feature of this park and it is the major attraction for most of the visitors to
Junagadh district. Tourist movement to Somnath along the project corridor is also significant.
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Other important pilgrim centres mainly Mount Girnar, is the highest point of elevation in Gujarat
state. Figure 3-12
Jetpur
Somnath
Figure 3-12 Tourist locations in Gujarat
3.7.7
Trade and Commerce
The major commodities manufactured in the districts are cotton bales, groundnut, mangoes,
vegetables, roof tiles, sugar, fish, wheat cement, food grain etc. Junagadh district is famous for
the production of groundnut and Kesar mangoes. Kesar variety of mangoes has made the name
of the district famous throughout India. The region of ghed which is water logged produces cotton
of the best quality; ground nuts are used in the manufacture of edible oil. A large quantity of
groundnut and Kesar are exported out of the district. For commercial needs and trade and
commerce point of view, project corridor is very important in transportation perspective.
3.7.8
Major Economic Drivers of influence area
The economy of Junagadh is mainly based on agriculture. With the new Government policy of
biotechnology, Junagadh has been identified as one of the agriculture biotechnology zone. This
will boost setting up of agro-biotech industries in the district. Veraval port in the district will have
separate facilities for commercial activities in near future. This will increase commercial
traffic at the port and would fuel the industrial activities of the district. With the development of
Simar as a Power Port, opportunities exist for setting up of power plants along the coastline of
Junagadh. Cement industry has been a key industry of the district and will experience further
growth with upcoming cement units thereby leading to economic development of the district.
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Junagadh boasts of some of the best tourist
destinations in the State and hence
experiences a huge influx of tourists every
year.
3.7.9
Industry investment Trends (199807) in influence area
Cement and Gypsum products witnessed
highest investment of INR 2026 Crores
projecting a growth of 31% and contributing
Figure 3-13: Investment trends in Junagadh District
58% to the total investments. These also
generated highest employment opportunities, creating 1465 jobs with a share of 42% in total
employment generated in Junagadh. Boiler and Steam generating units and infrastructure project
invited fresh investment during the decade (1998-2007) with INR 350 Crores and INR 300 Crores
respectively. Sugar industry emerged as a new sector inviting investment during the same
decade and generating second highest employment of 860 jobs in Junagadh. (Figure 3-13)
3.7.10 Investments in Pipeline of influence area
A total of 11 MoUs, amount to INR 5968 crores of
investments were signed for Junagadh during
Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit hosted in
the years 2003, 2005 and 2007. Cement, Tourism,
Textile, Agro & Food processing, Power and Ports
sector invited investment during three summits of
the Vibrant Gujarat. The Maximum number of MoU
was signed in cement industry and Agro & Food
processing industry. (Figure 2-14)
3.8
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
Figure 3-14 Investments in pipe line in Junagadh
district
The project influence area is characterized by distinctive environmental conditions. The major
characteristics have been summarized as under with supporting maps.

The project corridor falls in Peninsular of Saurashtra region of Gujarat State which is bounded between
North Latitude of 200 50’ to 230 05’ and East Longitude of 690 20’ to 720 10’. The influence region of
the project corridor comes under semi-arid climatic zone with significant levels of dryness. (Figure: 315).

Topographically, the project influence area can be divided into three main zones,viz : High relief area,
Flat area and Coastal zone. The elevation of the project area varies between 250 m to 5 m above the
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Mean Sea Level (MSL) starting from Jetpur to Somnath. The main geological formation of the project
area is totally Deccan trap with Trap dykes and main rocks are Dolomite and Basalt. (Figure: 3-16)
Jetpu
r
Jetpur
Somnat
h
Somnath
Figure 3-15 Aridity map

Figure 3-16: Geological Formation of the Project Area
Ground water resource estimation of the project influence area is restricted to ground water extraction
for some talukas. Figure 3-17 explains the ground water development zone of both Rajkot and
Junagadh districts. Mangrol taluka is an over exploited zone, while Vanthali is dark (critical) zone.
Dhoraji, Junagadh, Bhesan, Keshod and veraval talukas need caution for further ground water
retraction and remaining Jetpur, Mendarda and Malia talukas are in safe zones and feasible for
ground water extraction.
Category
% GW
Development
Over Exploited
>100
Critical (Dark)
Semi Critical
90-100
70-90
Safe(White)
Saline TDS >2500 ppm
< 70
Note
Restricted for Ground Water Extraction
Not advisable for Ground Water Extraction
Need caution for Ground Water Retraction
Feasible for Ground Water Extraction
Blending of GW and SW as per need.
Figure 3-17: Ground Water Development Zones of both Rajkot and Junagadh Districts
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Final Feasibility-cum-Preliminary Design Report
VOLUME I:
Preparation of Feasibility– cum-Preliminary Design for 4/6 Laning of JetpurSomnath section of NH 8D, Package No: NHAI/DBFOII/DPR/02
MAIN REPORT

Ground water pollution is an environmental issue in the region. Few talukas in Saurashtra have to
contend with the problem of ground water pollution due to salinity ingression along the coastal belt
(Figure.3-18).
Jetpur
Somnath
Figure 3-18: Salinity affected talukas
Figure 3-19: Pasture Rich talukas

The major part of the project influence area passes through agriculture lands, orchards of Mango,
Coconut, Chickoo and avenue trees comprising Banyan, Neem, Sesamum, Bawal, Babul and Cycus
form green tunnels at several locations. Also, there is presence of Girnar Reserve Forest and pasture
land in some of the talukas in Junagadh district. (Figure: 3-19). Conservation of these characteristics
would be an important issue of the region.

The Project area also crosses many nalas, creeks, and rivers like Uben, Madhumati, Hiranya, Ozat
and Devka. Influence area of the corridor ends at Somnath, near the temple close to the western coast
of Gujarat and River Devka influenced by the tidal action of the sea.
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