Gujarat govt shares details of next phase of work on Narmada dam


Ahmedabad, 12 June, 2014

Narmada Control Authority(NCA)’s 86th meeting today approved construction on Narmada dam upto full 138.68 meter height. The present height is 121.92 meter. Gujarat government’s spokesperson minister Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel described this as historic occasion. They described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Gujarat’s Bhagya Vidhata (fortune maker). They termed today’s decision as victory of Gujarat’s people, government’s skill, wisdom and political will power.

They said the construction work over Narmada dam was on in suspended mode for last 90 months due to anti-Gujarat policy of then government in centre. The construction work has been resumed immediately after NCA’s clearance today.

They said, at full 138.68 meter height water level(FRL), the storage of water will be at 4.75 million acre ft, three times higher than present 1.27 million acre ft. This will make it possible to cover new 6.8 lakh ha area under irrigation.

They said, the new height will increase hydro power generation by 40% and make it possible to generate 150 crore unit power per year. This will add new strength to nation’s power sector. The new height will increase drinking water supply and also help in controlling flood. The added water storage will be helpful during the years of water scarcity.

The ministers said Rs. 270 crore construction will be completed in short period of 36 months( 30 working months) by contractor of main dam using 11,000 tonne reinforcement steel, 1,20,000 square meter concrete. 30 radial gates worth 13,000 tonne weight will be installed.

Narmada Control Authority had given last permission to raise the height of dam on 8 March 2006 following which dam was raised to 121.92 meter by December 2006. Later the permission to raise the height further was pending.

Supreme Court had in its 18 October 2,000 decision asked NCA to prepare an action plan for earliest completion of project. Following this, NCA had planned completion of 138.68 meter construction by June 2005. As this time-table was not followed properly, Gujarat was suffering daily loss of Rs. 10.38 crore due to escalation in cost. Gujarat has suffered Rs. 45,500 crore loss which is even more than estimated total cost of the project.

Though various representations were made before centre, the UPA government had delayed the project with various obstructions.

Reacting to today’s development, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said that construction of one gate takes around one month time and considering this, installation of 30 gates will take 3 years time. Unfinished works of canals will be completed simultaneously.

Chief Minister kicked off the construction work in block no. 49 of the dam. Each of 30 gates will have weight of 13,000 metric tonne. Each of 23 gates will be 18.30 by 16.76 meter in size while each of other 7 gates will have a size of 18.30 by 18.30 meters.