On birthday, Modi to dedicate Narmada Dam to the nation

For the people of three states -- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra -- the decades long wait for the completion of an ambitious multi-purpose dam project is finally set to end. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Sardar Sarovar Project to the nation on Sunday, September 17, five decades after the foundation stone for the project was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on April 5, 1961.

"Prime Minister Modi will dedicate Sardar Sarovar project to the nation after opening the 30 gates installed on it. The gates were closed on the directions of the Narmada Control Authority on June 17 this year," Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. Modi is likely to spend the entire day in Gujarat, attending a couple of rallies and public meetings, besides inaugurating the dam.

Celebrations across Gujarat

Rupani further added that it was due to his tireless efforts to have flood-gates installed on it, that the dam had attained its full height, formally marking completion of the project. "There can't be a better gift for him on his birthday, which also falls on September 17," added Rupani.

The project, which has cost around Rs 60,000 crore, irrigates 1.8 million hectares of land in Gujarat and 2,46,000 hectares in Rajasthan. The project aims to benefit about 10 lakh farmers. The hydro power generated from the turbines installed in the dam provides electricity to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

To spread the word on the celebrations, the Gujarat government ran a state-wide campaign, 'Ma Narmada Mahotsav', from September 6-15. During the campaign, a chariot called the 'Narmada Rath' travelled across 24 districts in the state, covering 10,000 villages, to spread the message of the successful completion of the much-awaited project.

Political observers termed it as an effort by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to reach out to people ahead of the assembly elections, due in less than three months. However, at several places, the chariot was boycotted by villagers protesting against the government on local issues.

Delayed start

The Sardar Sarovar Dam project was conceptualised by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, after whom the project was named. Before it was renamed, the project was called the Navagam Dam. Though the foundation stone for the project was laid by Nehru in 1961, construction work on it could not commence till February 1980 due to litigation on issues relating to the environment and rehabilitation of displaced villagers.

After clearances from various authorities was received, construction work progressed and the dam remained unfinished at a height of 121.92 metres till May 2014. It was in June, after the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) approved the state government’s eight-year-old plea to increase the Sardar Sarovar dam’s height by installing 17-metre tall sluice gates, that the project was completed.

The installation of 30 sluice gates further increased the dam’s height from 121.92 metres to 138.68 metres, taking it to its full height. (This remains the height of the reservoir level in the closed-gates condition) The storage capacity has increased to 4.73 million cubic metres (MCM) from the earlier 1.27 million cubic metres. The increased reservoir levels would help pump more water into the planned 75,000-km-long network of Narmada canals across Gujarat. However, the opposition Congress has claimed that about 43,000 km of canal work remains incomplete, thereby, causing massive loss to the state.

"The celebrations for the completion of the dam are merely a poll plank. The CAG and Planning Commission had earlier pointed out that due to incomplete canal network, farmers are losing about Rs 1,800 crore every season," said Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress spokesperson.

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