DraftMinutes of 86th Emergency Meeting of Narmada Control Authority held at

New Delhi on 12th June 2014

86th emergency meeting of Narmada Control Authority (NCA) was held

under the chairmanship of Chairman, Narmada Control Authority and Secretary

to the Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources at New Delhi on 12 th

June 2014 to discuss the agenda item "To review the status of Phase-I

construction of piers, overhead bridge and installation of gates at Sardar Sarovar

Dam". The Agenda Note is placed at Annex 86 Min(1).

At the outset, the Chairman welcomed the members and special invitees

of NCA (List of participants at Annex Min 86(2)). The Chairman then requested

Executive Member to take up the agenda.

The Executive Member, NCA stated that the NCA in its 80th meeting

had decided that further construction of Sardar Sarovar dam would be carried out

in two phases. The Phase-I construction would be first considered by the

Environment Sub-group (ESG) and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Sub-group

(R&R) in consultation with Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA) of Gujarat,

Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra and. He also indicated that the Environment

subgroup has already cleared the construction of Phase-I proposal with certain

conditions. The GRA of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have also cleared the

Phase-I proposal. However, GRA Maharashtra had certain observations.

Government of Maharashtra has reported compliance of the observations of

GRA Maharashtra which were further verified by the committee constituted by

the R&R sub-group.

Thereafter, a brief presentation was made by Member (E&R), NCA on

status of construction and clearance by ESG. He brought out that in compliance

with the observations of ESG, CWC had studied the backwater effect and found

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that the afflux due to phase I proposal at Sardar Sarovar Dam would be

El.134.15 m instead of earlier estimated afflux of El.134.32 m which had already

been cleared by NCA in its 76th Meeting for raising the dam height up to

El.121.92m.

Chairman, R&R Sub-group of NCA and Secretary to the Government of

India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment stated that the Phase-I proposal

related to Sardar Sarovar Dam was discussed in the 77 th Meeting of R&R Sub-

Group of NCA held on 27.6.2013 wherein the following decisions, inter alia, were

taken.

i). With regard to payment of second installment to the Project Affected Families (PAFs) in Madhya Pradesh under the Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP), the Sub-Group expressed concern that Government of Madhya Pradesh (GOMP) should make a representation before Justice Jha Commission urging it to expedite the process of scrutiny of cases related to payment of second installment under SRP within the four corners of law so that the matter can be resolved at the earliest.

ii) The Sub-Group reiterated the need for constant monitoring of resettlement works. The Sub-Group also advised the State Governments to prepare a Contingency Plan for the PAFs to whom R&R package already delivered/extended for which they were entitled but still residing in the submergence villages by their choice to safeguard these PAFs against any untoward incidence during flood seasons.

iii) Since there is not going to be additional submergence because of the implementation of the Phase-I proposal, the Sub-Group considers that the clearance to present Phase-I Proposal can be recommended to the NCA. Accordingly, the sub-Group with above conditions conveys its clearance to the NCA for implementation of the Phase-I Proposal.

A copy of the letter enclosing decision of the R&R Sub-Group received

vide letter no. F.1(2)/2013-NCA dated 12th June 2014 is placed at Annex 86-Min

(3).

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Director (IA&R), NCA submitted that the State Government namely

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat should prepare a contingency Plan

as done in the past to safeguard those PAFs who are still residing in the

submergence zone.

The Chairman, CWC stated that CWC based on its studies on backwater

has already given unequivocal assurances that there would not be any additional

submergence due to Phase-I construction. He also assured that all needed

technical assistance would be provided to the project authorities by CWC.

The Vice Chairman, Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA),

Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) stated that the State Government is

making all efforts to see that payment of second installment of special

rehabilitation package (SRP) are made to the Affected Families. Secondly,

GoMP has earlier prepared a contingency plan for those affected families

residing in the submergence area of Indira Sagar Project and similar plan is in

place for Sardar Sarovar Dam also. He further stated that the period of 36

months available for construction of Phase-I proposal would also be utilized for

R&R of balance PAFs in Phase-II proposal. He indicated that GoMP

recommends permission for Phase-I proposal.

Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat stated that construction of the

project has been delayed which is affecting its potential creation. The R&R

issues have already been examined by R&R sub-group and the committee

constituted by the R&R sub-group has also verified the same. He indicated that

the Government of Gujarat would cooperate in addressing any problem related to

human issues and the permission for Phase-I proposal should be accorded by

NCA.

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Government of Maharashtra representative stated that there were some

issues which were complied by Government of Maharashtra way back in

August .2012 and its action taken report was also neutrally examined and some

minor issues were observed which have also been complied. He assured that

R&R for Phase I is complete and recommended for permission by NCA.

The representative of Government of Rajasthan stated that they

welcomed installation of gates and other related civil construction on Sardar

Sarovar dam as indicated in Phase-I proposal.

The Chairman NCA concluded that the two sub-groups have cleared the

Phase-I proposal and all the four States have recommended the same and if

some R&R issues are there, the same can be taken care of in 36 months when

gates are open during Phase I construction.

In view of above unanimous recommendations and clearances by ESG

and R&R Sub-group, the Authority accorded its permission for Phase-I proposal.

It was also decided that in line with the past practice, Narmada Control Authority

may communicate the following decision to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam

Limited (SSNNL).

“The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited is permitted to carry out Phase-I proposal comprising construction of piers, overhead bridge and installation of gates in open or raised position at SSP as per the approved design. The project authorities should comply with the conditions as laid down by the two subgroups of NCA. Particular care may be taken in preparing plan to provide timely safeguard in case of untoward/unforeseen incident.”

A copy of the letter to SSNNL is placed at Annex 86- Min(4).

The meeting ended with thanks to the Chair.

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