His elation, and that of Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, could be seen as an over-reaction to an interim court order were it not for a crucial tactical victory: The okay to construct the dam up to 85 metres.

Though there is one more hurdle in the final hearings at the Supreme Court, due to begin in April, the government appears to have entered the home stretch with most obstacles negotiated.

There does remain, though, the issue of resettlement and rehabilitation. On this, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel told The Indian Express on Friday that the government had completed R and R up to 90 metres' height, and was ``confident that the P.D. Desaicommittee looking into this would find it satisfactory.'' He added that the committee report would be final.

Explaining the reason for the upbeat mood, given that this was just an interim order, Patel said breaking the deadlock was important. Though the Chief Minister avoided a lengthy discussion on the matter, saying it was still in court, top official sources said the most controversial issue -- the dam's height had become virtually a fait accompli.

After 85 metres of construction (455 feet) the long-standing demand of the Madhya Pradesh Government to limit the height to 436 feet has willine nillie been set aside. At 81.5 metres, the profile of the dam would have been altered to suit MP's requirements but with the present approved height, the issue has been sealed in Gujarat's favour. All other issues relating to environment and seismicity too have lost out in the background. Funds also remains a grey area, but Patel appeared confident on this. ``Money will not be a problem at all. We will issuebonds, raise our budgetary allocation to the project and seek assistance from the Centre. I am going to reiterate our request to the Centre to grant national status to the SSP and allocate money.''

Vyas, meanwhile, sought to dispel doubts that the increasing demand for Narmada project waters by municipal corporations and industries would reduce the flow to the drought-prone areas in Kutch and Saurashtra. He said, ``Not even a wee bit extra will be given to anyone. My priorities are the parched areas in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch. If we could start making the canals from the other side, I would personally prefer that.'' The 9 million acre feet water earmarked for industries would be maintained, ``nothing more, nothing less,'' he clarified.