NCA green signal arrives for raising the Narmada dam height

It’s good news for Gujarat and bad for “anti-dam forces”. The environmental sub-group of Narmada Control Authority (NCA) chaired by Union environment and forests secretary Vinay Sharma, on Thursday met in Delhi and cleared the decks for raising the Narmada dam height from the current 121.92 metres to 138.64 metres, which is the dam’s full reservoir level. The NCA agency allowed 30 pillars to be raised on the dam, install radial gates between them and construct overhead bridge.

However the construction work for 30 working months, will have to wait for a nod from the NCA’s rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) committee before a final approval from the NCA. As of now the central committee has asked Gujarat to keep the radial gates open till the environmental treatment of the catchment area of the Narmada reservoir area is complete.

Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) managing director S Jagadeesan, joint MD K Srinivas and principal chief conservator of forests Pradeep Khanna attended the meeting from Gujarat side. The officials are hopeful that the construction work of the dam will start in May. Gujarat has submitted a plan for environmental treatment of the Narmada command area and started implementing the drainage treatment scheme in about 200 hectares area, which is likely to be affected because of the construction of canal network.