Says NCA should not allow the installation of steel radial gates and spillway piers at dam

The stalemate over the completion of the multi-crore Sardar Sarovar dam project continues. Maharashtra has stuck to its earlier stand against an approval to Gujarat by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to install steel radial gates and construct spillway piers and an overbridge at the dam.

Maharashtra was learnt to have expressed its views against Gujarat’s demand for the same at a meeting of the NCA’s R&R sub-group in Delhi on Monday.

The meeting, chaired by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry’s Secretary was attended by senior officials from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

“The Congress-NCP-ruled Maharashtra is creating hurdles in the way of early completion of the dam project. Our officials made a strong representation at the R&R sub-group meeting, urging the NCA to allow Gujarat to install radial gates and construct concrete piers so as to further raise the dam’s height to 188.68 metres from its present 121.92 metres,” said Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) Chairman N V Patel on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra government’s argument is that the NCA should not grant an approval to Gujarat to complete work on the dam, for Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are yet to finish work on rehabilitation and resettlement of the project-affected families in their respective states.

Maharashtra has also argued that the construction of piers and overhead bridge at the dam will cause additional submergence of 1.62 metres. As such, environment safeguard measures commensurate with this additional submergence should be completed in time (before further raising the dam’ height).

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