The union water resources minister and my friend and former colleaugue, Saifuddin Soz, has every right to review the progress of the implementation of decisions. He is in fact obliged to do so every quarter, since he is the chairman of the review committee of the Narmada Control Authority.

We are sure he will find ways to expedite the completion of the project for we have gone very far and the benefits of covering the last mile are tremendous for the people of MP and Maharashtra, who need power very badly and will now get most of it. The people of Gujarat and Rajasthan, who also need water, will also benefit. Anyone travelling the Narmada valley can see the Adivasi coming of age and thirsting for more energy — as a farmer, an artisan and a householder. This should not be allowed to come only from big companies importing gas when hydel energy is allowed to go into the sea unutilised.

The writer is chancellor, Nagaland University, and former union minister for power, planning and science