The Narmada Control Authority(NCA), chaired by Dr.Amarjit Singh has given clearance to the Gujarat State Government to increase the dam’s height by lowering 30 gates and storing of water in the reservoir up to its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) 138.68 metres, on 17th June, 2017
Subsequently, The Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani visited the site and ordered to close the gates.
BRIEF HISTORY OF SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT:
The foundation stone of the Sardar Sarovar dam, also called the Life line of Gujarat, was laid by the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 5th April, 1961.In 1964, to resolve the dispute about sharing of the Narmada Water between the Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the Government of India appointed Khosla committee. The Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) was constituted by the Government of India in October 1969.
In 1985 the World Bank agreed to finance the Sardar Sarovar dam of nearly $450 million, approximately 10% of the total cost of the project. But the project got delayed due to several reasons, the important reason being the opposition to it by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) led by social activist Medha Patkar. The World Bank withdrew its financial involvement in 1993 after reviewing the environmental and rehabilitation issues raised. The construction work of the dam was suspended in 1996.
In October 2000, Though the Supreme court cleared the construction of the dam, the apex court had set a condition that permission to increase the dam height would be given in parts after the project-affected-people (PAP) are resettled or compensated.
In February 2017, the Apex Court had granted permission for the completion of the project and ordered monetary compensation of approximately ₹60 lakh per family for the project affected families, who did not receive compensation earlier.
The project becomes complete after 56 years, as the Union Government nodded to close thirty gates of the dam.
BENEFITS OF SSD PROJECT:
SPECIFICATIONS | AT PRESENT | AFTER CLOSING THE GATES |
|---|---|---|
HEIGHT | 121.92 Metres | 138.68 Metres |
LIVE STORAGE CAPACITY | 1565 MCM (Million cubic metres) | 5740 MCM |
POWER GENERATION | 1300 MW | 1450 MW |
In power generation, the increase in annual generation by about 1100 Million Units will earn Rs.400/- crore per annum
This additional storage of water would irrigate about 8 lakh hectares.
About one crore population would get assured drinking water.
This project would primarily meet the water requirement of drought prone areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
There are two power houses for the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), which are River bed Power house and Canal head power house. Power benefits are shared among Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat in the ratio of 57:27:16 respectively.
Before the clearance was given by NCA, The Environment Sub-group of NCA reviewed the implementation of Environment Safeguard Measures and The Resettlement and Rehabilitation sub-group of NCA reviewed the progress of Rehabilitation and resettlement of the project affected families. The Environment Sub-group has also asked the State Governments to complete leftover works by June 30, 2017.