The Times of India, June 17 2017, Gandhinagar: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Madhya Pradesh to take part in Narmada conservation project launched by the Madhya Pradesh government, the Gujarat government on Friday got permission to close Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam gates to store more water.
Today morning Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and deputy CM Nitin Patel visited the dam site to observe closure of gates. This move will give a much needed push to the Gujarat BJP in the election year.
The Narmada Control Authority (NCA) Friday issued most crucial permission.
All the party states and asked the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan to complete Resettlement of Rehabilitation(R&R) of the Project Affect Families(PAF) to strictly comply with the Supreme Court order to complete all the formalities before 31st of July required for the closing of the gates of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam. However all three states especially Madhya Pradesh completed R & R work before deadline.
Closing of the gates will increase the dams storage capacity from 1.4 MAF(million acre feet) to 4.75 MAF through which it can supply huge quantity of water in Saurashtra and North Gujarat for irrigation, drinking water and industry.
Gujarat government has planned a grand show in July end or August first week which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a Narmada Yatra in state will be organised to celebrate the success and mobilize masses. BJP plans to cash upon the success of completion of Narmada dam project in 2017 elections.
Raising of the height of the dam upto 138 meters and installation of the radial gates was completed in the December 2016. Now the Gujarat government gets permission from the SC to close the gates now water storage will increase from present 1.4 MAF(million acre feet) to 4.75 MAF through which it can supply huge quantity of water in Saurashtra and North Gujarat for irrigation, drinking water and industry.
Web: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-govt-closes-narmada-dam-gates-after-centres-permission/articleshow/59190179.cms
