• If the dam height is raised to 121.92 m before the monsoon, its power generation capacity is expected to double to 4,000 million units—of which Maharashtra would gain over 1,000 million units this year.

So, raising the height would double the project’s power benefit for Maharashtra—from the 517 million units it received during 2005-06 to over 1,000 million units this year.

‘‘If the dam height remains at 110.64 m, 2,000 million units of power can be generated. But if the height is raised to 121.92 m before the monsoon, power generation can be doubled to 4,000 million units of which Maharashtra would get a 27 per cent share,’’ A B Mandaviya, director (civil), of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, told The Indian Express.

Maharashtra’s 27 per cent share is the second largest slice of power among the Narmada dam’s three beneficiary states.

Gujarat receives much less—16 per cent—enough to agitate Chief Minister Narendra Modi to fast for 51 hours.

‘‘Maharashtra certainly gets a significant share,’’ says Mandaviya. This 27 per cent of the project’s 1,450 MW capacity would translate into about 400 MW. Maharashtra is reeling under a 4,000 MW shortfall, with demand at 13,500 MW and only 9,500 MW available (minus Mumbai).

Ministers and officials of the ruling coalition are tightlipped on Deshmukh’s vote—‘‘I haven’t discussed it with him, I can’t comment,’’ says energy minister Dilip Walse-Patil.

A top official of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company which distributes power from the project agreed that Maharashtra’s 27 per cent share is ‘‘quite significant’’ but, again, declined to comment on Deshmukh’s vote.

But the opposition is loudly critical.

‘‘It’s unfortunate for Maharashtra how Deshmukh voted. His vote is against development, I don’t understand why he just threw up his hands this way?’’ said Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray, back from hugging Modi and scoring for the Sena with the Gujarati community.

‘‘Deshmukh’s vote betrayed Maharashtra,’’ says BJP’s Maharashtra chief Nitin Gadkari who raised the issue in the Assembly.

‘‘Both Modi and I had telephoned Deshmukh to plead with him to support the dam work. But Deshmukh’s aim is to hold on to his post, ready to make any compromise. The SC decision on letting work continue has exposed the Centre and Vilasrao.’’

Having ex-CM Sushilkumar Shinde heading the Union Power Ministry isn’t proving a quick fix for Maharashtra’s power crisis either. Political rival Deshmukh was replaced by Shinde as CM in 2003—until Deshmukh again took over from Shinde as CM in 2004.

Power flow
Share of states in the current 1,250 MW capacity:
MP: 57%
Maharashtra: 27%
Gujarat: 16%