AHMEDABAD: In a major boost to Gujarat which has been regularly facing water woes due to deficient rains, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today announced that they have got approval to raise the height of Narmada dam to 138.72 meters (455 feet).
“The Narmada Control Authority (NCA) has given the approval to raise the height of the dam to 138 meters,” Patel said in Junagadh while she was there to attend a function.
The decision of the NCA comes just a few days after Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of the country.
“Heartfelt gratitude from the people of Gujarat to Hon PM Narendra Modi. The decision pending has come so swiftly.
Achchhe din aa Gaye hain!!,” she also tweeted on micro blogging site twitter today.
“At Junagadh right now for Shala Preveshotsav. Leaving for Narmada dam site at Kevadia. Not a single day should be lost in resuming work,” she further tweeted.
State health minister and spokesperson Nitin Patel told PTI, “We have received the approval for raising the height of Narmada dam from 121.92 meters to 138 meters.”
The decision to raise the height of the dam comes after eight years.
The foundation stone of the dam was laid by country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on April 5, 1961. The project, however, got embroiled in controversy over issues of displacement of project-affected people.
However, the Supreme Court had earlier given the approval for the project to raise the height of the dam to 138.72 meters.–PTI
