Contents of Section 5 Reticular canal system for Interlinking Indian Rivers Chapter 6-Facts and figures related to Reservoirs of India 61-FampF ndash Reservoirs and dams in India 62-FampF ndash Projects across River kosi 63-FampF ndash Irrigation projects along the river Godavari 64-FampF ndash Narmada river water projects 65-FampF ndashWater dispute ndash Height of almatti dam

Chapter 6 Facts and figures related to Reservoirs of India

61 FampF ndash Reservoirs and dams in India [Reservoirs and dams in India

Map of the major rivers lakes and reservoirs in India

This page lists the reservoirs and dams in India

Andhra Pradesh

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

Srisailam Project

Srisailam Dam

Nizam Sagar

joorala project

rajolibanda dam

kiol sagar

Telugu Ganga

Polavaram dam

Nijam Sagar Reservoir

Osman Sagar

Sriram Sagar Reservoir

Lower Maneru Reservoir

Himayath Sagar Reservoir

Dindi Reservoir

Somasila

Gandipalem Reservoir

Dowleswaram Barrage

prakasam barrage

Tatipudi Reservoir

Inchampalli

Pulichintala

Ellammpalli

Singur Dam

Dummagudem

NagarjunaSagar TailPond

Sunkesula

Musi Reservoir

pothireddy padu

Ramagundam Dam

Pranahita Chevella

Intenuka Muriki Kaluva Reservoir

jeri dam

Gujarat

Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada river

Ukai Dam near Surat

Dharoi Dam on Sabarmati River near Dharoi

Vasana Berej on Sabarmati River near Ahmedabad

Check Dams

Himachal Pradesh+ Punjab

Bhakra Dam on Sutlej river near Nangal

Gobind Sagar

Maharana Pratap Sagar

Pong Dam Reservoir on Beas River near Talwara

Pandoh Dam on Beas River near Mandi

Chamera Dam on Ravi River near Chamba

Nathpa Dam on Sutlej River near Rampur

Jammu and Kashmir

Salal Project

Jharkhand

Maithon Dam

Chandil Dam on Swarnarekha River near Chandil

Karnataka

Hidkal Jalashaya (Dam) across Ghataprabha

Dhupdal Reservior across Ghataprabha

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

Alamatti Damacross Krishna

Basava Sagara Dam

Linganamakki dam

Supa Dam

Kodasalli Dam

Kadra Dam

Tunga Bhadra Dam

Kabini Reservoir

Harangi Dam

Narayanpur Dam downstream of Alamatti Dam

Garura Dam Krishna River

Hemavathi Reservoir (Gorur Dam)

Naviltheertha Dam across Malaprabha

Nethravathi river

Linganmakki Dam across Sharavathi River

Gajanuru Dam across Tunga river

Lakkavali Dam across Bhadra river

Kerala

Banasura Sagar Dam

Malampuzha Dam

Chalakkudy Dam

Peechi dam

Vazhani dam

Mangalam dam

Mattupetty Dam

Kundala dam in Munnar

Parambikulam Dam

Pothundi Dam

Walayar Dam

Idukki arch dam in idukki

Mullaperiyar Dam

Malankara Dam

Neyyar Dam

Siruvani Dam

Meenkara Dam

Kanjhirapuzha

Chulliyar Dam

Jeevana dam

Madhya Pradesh

Bansagar

Bargi Dam

Barna Dam

Gandhi Sagar dam

Indirasagar

Madikheda Dam

Narmada Dam Project

Rajghat

Tawa Reservoir

halali dam

kolar dam

kerwa dam

Maharashtra

MULA Dam Rahuri - River MULA

Koyna Dam - River Koyna

Jaikwadi

Ujani -River Bhima

Mulshi Dam - River Mula

Khadakwasla - River Mutha

Kolkewadi Dam

Panshet - River Mutha

Radhanagari

Bhatsa

Tansa

Vaitarna

Pawna - River Pawna

Bhandardara

Gangapur Dam Nashik

Ozarkhed Dam Nashik

Karanjwan Dam

Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam

Yeldari on Purna River Near Parbhani

Siddheshwar on Purna River Near Parbhani

Manar On River Manar Near Nanded

Girna On River Girna

Chaskaman On River Bhima Near Rajgurunagar

Pravara On River Godavari

Isapur Dam on River Painganga River

Bhadardara On River Pravara

Meghalaya

Umiam Lake

Orissa

Balimela Reservoir

Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi River near Sambalpur

Balimela Reservoir

Jalaput on Machkund River near Jaypore Koraput District

Indravati Dam on river Indravati in kalahandi district

Salia dam on river Kharkhari in Ganjam District

Tamil Nadu

Aliyar Reservoir

Amaravathi Reservoir

Amaravathi Dam

Anaikuttam Reservoir

Anainaduvu Reservoir

Bhavanisagar Reservoir

Chittar Reservoir

Chittar Reservoir-1

Chittar Reservoir-2

Gatana Reservoir

Golwarpatti Reservoir

Gomukhinadhi Reservoir

Gundar Reservoir

Gunderippalam Reservoir

Kariakoil Reservoir

Karupppanadhi Reservoir

Kelavarapalli Reservoir

Kesarigulihalla Reservoir

Kodaganar Reservoir

Kovilar Reservoir

Krishnagiri Reservoir

Kullursandai Reservoir

Kutharaiyar Reservoir

Lower Nirar Reservoir

Manimukthanadhi Reservoir

Manimuthar Reservoir

Manjalar Reservoir

Marudhanadhi Reservoir

Mettur Dam

Nagavathi Reservoir

Noyyal Oarathuppalayam

Palar Porandalar Reservoir

Pambar Reservoir

Parambikulam Reservoir

Parappalar Reservoir

Pechiparai Reservoir

Periyar Reservoir (Pilavukkal Project)

Periyar Reservoir

Perumpallam Reservoir

Perunchani Reservoir

Peruvaripallam

Ponnaniar Reservoir

Ramanadhi Reservoir

Sathanur Reservoir

Sholayar Reservoir

Siddhamalli Reservoir

Soolagiri chinnar Reservoir

Stanley Reservoir

Thambalahalli Reservoir

Thirumurthi Reservoir

Thoppaiyar Reservoir

Thunakadavu Reservoir

Uppar Reservoir

Upper Nirar Wier

Vaigai Dam

Vaigai Reservoir

Vaniyar Reservoir

Varadamanadhi Reservoir

Varattupallam Reservoir

Vattamalaikarai Odai Reservoir

Vembakottai Reservoir

Vidur Reservoir

Willingdon Reservoir

Uttar Pradesh

Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar on Rihand River in Sonbhadra

Kalagarh Dam on Ramganga River in Kalagarh

Parichha Dam on Betwa River in Parichha (Jhansi District)

List of Dams in Lalitpur District Uttar Pradesh

o (A) Matatila Dam constructed during 1952-1964 on Betwa River in Lalitpur District Uttar Pradesh

Length 630 km Height 3353 Meters Area 20720 Sqkm Storage 113268 Mcm

o (B) Jamni Dam constructed during 1962-1973 on Jamni River in Lalitpur District Uttar Pradesh

Length 640 km Height 1918 Meters Area 414 Sqkm Storage 9289 Mcm

o (C) Rohini Dam constructed during 1976-1984 on Rohini River in Lalitpur District Uttar Pradesh

Length 165km Height 1550 Meters Area 44 Sqkm Storage 1212 Mcm

o (D) Shahzad Dam constructed during 1973-1992 on Shahzad River in Lalitpur District Uttar

Pradesh Length 416 km Height 1800 Meters Area 514 Sqkm Storage 13000 Mcm

o (E) Govind Sagar Dam constructed during 1947-1953 on Shahzad River in Lalitpur District Uttar

Pradesh Length 360 km Height 1829 Meters Area 368 Sqkm Storage 968 Mcm

o (F) Sajnam Dam constructed during 1977-1990 on Sajnam River in Lalitpur District Uttar Pradesh

Length 515 km Height 1878 Meters Area 290 Sqkm Storage 8350 Mcm

o (G) Sukma-Dukma Dam a below water construction on Betwa River near Jhansi District Uttar

Pradesh Length 215 km Height 2078 Meters

Uttarakhand

Tehri dam

Dhauli ganga dam

Sriram Sagar

Devadula Lift Irrigation Project

Kaddam

Manjira Reservoir

Lower Tirna

Purna

Upper PenGanga

Lower Dudhana

Jayakwadi Dam

Bhandara Reservoir

Mula Reservoir

Upper Pravara

Upper Indravati Project

Godavari Canal

Upper WainGanga

Majalgaon irrigation project is located in the Godavari river basin in the state of Maharashtra

West Bengal

Panchet Dam

Dam projects

Narmada Dam Project

Banasura Sagar Dam - Banasurasagar Project

Noyyal River - Tanks System

Farakka Barrage

Source [34] ]

All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 500mts AMSL except in the states of Jammu

and Kashmir Northestern states will get the water form RCS and the principle feeders will be the

Ganga and the Yamuna

All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 300mts AMSL except in the states of Jammu

and Kashmir Northestern states will get the water form RCS and the principle feeders will be the

Brahamaputra for the RCS

All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 900mts AMSL in south deccan platue

especially the southern districts of Karnataka western districts of Andra Pradesh and Tamilnadu will

get the water from the RCS and the principle feeders will be the River Kavery

All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 800mts AMSL in north India like states of

Punjab Haryana Himachal Pradesh Delhi northern district of Uttarpradesh Bihar which are north

to the course of Ganga and Yamuna will get the water from the RCS and the principle feeders will be

the Ganaga and Yamuna Rivers

62 FampF ndash Projects across River kosi [Kosi River

Development scenario

Multipurpose projects

After India attained independence in August 1947 the development scenario in India has been

resolute on technological development In keeping with this approach the National Flood Control

Policy in 1954 (following the disastrous floods of 1954 in a large part of the Koshi river basin) stated

that floods could be controlled through a series of flood protection works like dams embankments

and river training works One such work which drew the immediate attention of the policy planners

after independence was a solution to the recurring flood menace faced by people of North Bihar due

to the Kosi and other rivers flowing from Nepal to India The Kosi project was thus conceptualized

(based on investigations between 1946 to 1955) in three continuous interlinked stages ndash the first

was a barrage to anchor this wayward river that had migrated about 120 km (75 mi) westward in the

last 250 years laying waste to a huge tract in north Bihar and to provide irrigation and power

benefits to Nepal and India The second part was to build embankments both below and above the

barrage so as to jacket the river within the defined channel The third part envisaged a high

multipurpose dam within Nepal at Barakshetra to provide substantial flood cushion along with large

irrigation and power benefits to both countries This was followed up by signing of the Kosi

Agreement between Nepal and India on 25 April 1954 and which was revised on 19 December 1966

to address the concerns of Nepal Further letters of Exchange to the Agreement between the two

countries provided for additional schemes for providing benefits of irri gation While the first two

parts of the concept plan have been implemented at the cost of the Government of India the third

part namely the Koshi High dam the kingpin of the whole concept for various political reasons

precluded any action for several years but has since been revived under a fresh agreement in a

modified form for further investigations and studies

Details of the above projects are elaborated below

Kosi barrage and irrigation

Kosi Barrage also called Bhimnagar Barrage after the name of the place where it was built between

the years 1959 and 1963 straddles the Indo-Nepal border It is an irrigation flood control and

hydropower generation project on the Kosi river built under a bilateral agreement between Nepal

and India the entire cost of the project was borne by India The catchment area of the river is

61788 km2 (23856 sq mi) in Nepal at the Barrage site The highest peaks ndash the Mount Everest and

the Mount Kanchenjunga mdash lie in its catchment About 10 of this catchment is snow-fed The

Eastern Canal and the Western Canal taking off from the barrage have been designed for a discharge

capacity of 455 cubic metres per second (16100 cu fts) to irrigate 6125 square kilometres

(1514000 acres) and 210 cubic metres per second (7400 cu fts) to irrigate 35661 square

kilometres (881200 acres) respectively A hydropower plant has been built on the Eastern Canal at

a canal drop (36 km (22 mi) from the Koshi Barrage) to generate 20 MW The Western Kosi Canal

provides irrigation to 250 square kilometres (62000 acres) in Nepal A valuable bridge over the

barrage opened up the East-West highway in the eastern sector of Nepal

An inundation canal taking off at Chatra where the Kosi debouches into the plains has been built to

irrigate a gross area of 860 kmsup2 in Nepal The project has been renovated with IDA assistance after

Nepal took over the project in 1976

Silt deposition near Kosi embankment at Navbhata Saharsa Bihar India

Kosi embankment system

The Kosi barrage with earth dams across river afflux bunds and embankments above and below the

river confines the river to flow within embankments Embankments on both sides downstream of

the barrage with a length of 246 km (153 mi) has been constructed to check the westward

movement of the river The embankments have been kept wide apart about 12 to 16 km (99 mi) to

serve as a silt trap

Sapta Kosi High Multipurpose Project (Indo-Nepal)

Government of India (GOI) and His Majestys Government of Nepal (HMGN) have agreed to conduct

joint investigations and other studies for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Sapta

Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme to meet the

objectives of both the countries for Development of a) hydropower generation b) irrigation c) flood

controlmanagement and d) navigation

A 269-metre (880 ft) high concreteRock fill dam on the Sapta Koshi River with a dam toe

underground power house with an installed capacity of 3000 MW at 50 load factor a barrage on

river Sapta Kosi about 8 km (50 mi) downstream of Sapta Kosi High Dam to re-regulate the water

being released from the Sapta Koshi dam with two canals Eastern Chhatra Canal and Western

Chhatra Canal off-taking from the either bank from barrage site to provide water for irrigation both

in Nepal and India and Navigation through Koshi up to Kursela and also in the reservoir of Sapta

Koshi dam are envisaged

A Power Canal off-taking from the Eastern Chatra Canal is proposed for conveying the water

required for irrigation at existing Kosi barrage at Hanuman Nagar and also the water which may be

required downstream of Hanuman Nagar Barrage for the purpose of navigation To utilize the head

available between Chatra and Hanuman Nagar barrages for power generation three canal Power

Houses each of 100 MW installed capacity are also proposed on power canal

Silt deposition near Kosi embankment at Navbhata Saharsa Bihar India

Kosi embankment system

The Kosi barrage with earth dams across river afflux bunds and embankments above and below the

river confines the river to flow within embankments Embankments on both sides downstream of

the barrage with a length of 246 km (153 mi) has been constructed to check the westward

movement of the river The embankments have been kept wide apart about 12 to 16 km (99 mi) to

serve as a silt trap

Sapta Kosi High Multipurpose Project (Indo-Nepal)

Government of India (GOI) and His Majestys Government of Nepal (HMGN) have agreed to conduct

joint investigations and other studies for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Sapta

Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme to meet the

objectives of both the countries for Development of a) hydropower generation b) irrigation c) flood

controlmanagement and d) navigation

A 269-metre (880 ft) high concreteRock fill dam on the Sapta Koshi River with a dam toe

underground power house with an installed capacity of 3000 MW at 50 load factor a barrage on

river Sapta Kosi about 8 km (50 mi) downstream of Sapta Kosi High Dam to re-regulate the water

being released from the Sapta Koshi dam with two canals Eastern Chhatra Canal and Western

Chhatra Canal off-taking from the either bank from barrage site to provide water for irrigation both

in Nepal and India and Navigation through Koshi up to Kursela and also in the reservoir of Sapta

Koshi dam are envisaged

A Power Canal off-taking from the Eastern Chatra Canal is proposed for conveying the water

required for irrigation at existing Kosi barrage at Hanuman Nagar and also the water which may be

required downstream of Hanuman Nagar Barrage for the purpose of navigation To utilize the head

available between Chatra and Hanuman Nagar barrages for power generation three canal Power

Houses each of 100 MW installed capacity are also proposed on power canal

Necessary cushion in storage capacity of Sapta Kosi High Dam would be provided to moderate the

flood downstream of dam

Chatra Canal System would provide irrigation to large areas in Nepal and India (particularly in Bihar)

A Joint Project Office (JPO) has been set up in Nepal for investigation of the project

Hydropower

Nepal has a total estimated potential of 83290 MW out of which economically exploitable potential

is 42140 MW The Koshi river basin contributes 22350 MW of this potential(360 MW from small

schemes and 1875 MW from major schemes) and the economically exploitable potential is assessd

as 10860 MW (includes the Sapta Koshi Multipurpose Project [3300MW] mentioned above) Source [34]]

Damages to the canal ndash embankment ndash hydroelectrical projects are the possibilities if we create the

projects at places where we can expect high flow in short time of period It is better to target the

water at higher level before they unite and form big volume of water at one point

63 FampF ndash Irrigation projects along the river Godavari

[Godavari River Basin Irrigation Projects

Godavari River Delta

The Godavari River has its catchment area in five states of India Maharashtra Chattisgarh Madhya

Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Karnataka and Orissa

Dowleswaram Barrage

Jalaput

Balimela Reservoir

Upper Indravati

Nizam Sagar

Dams and bridges along the river

A barrage was built on the river at Dowleswaram was built by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1850 It was

rebuilt as a barrage and roadway during 1980s and named after him The roadway connects

Dowleswaram in East Godavari and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari

There is also a big dam built just after the source of the river at Trimbakeshwar The dam is in the

town of Gangapur which literally means a town on a river The dam provides drinking water to the

residents of Nashik and also supplies water to the thermal power station situated downstream at

Eklahara which provides power to the town

There is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River named Sri Ram Sagar Project in

Nizamabad District It is in the town of Pochampad 60km away from Nizamabad It irrigates 4

districts of Northern Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power

The Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is one of the largest earthen dam in India This dam was built to

address the problem of drought in Marathwada region and problem of flood along the bank of river

Two left and right canals provide the irrigation to fertile land up to Nanded district This dam has

major contribution in industrial development of Aurangabad

Source [34]]

All the dams which are at the level of 500mts AMSL will receive the water from FPC1 and thoses at

or below the level of 300mts AMSL will receive the water from FPC4

64 FampF ndash Narmada river water projects

[Narmada River

Narmada river development (NRD)

The Narmada river has a huge water resources potential as much as 3321 MAF (41000 Mcum) of

average annual flow (more than 90 of this flow occurring during the monsoon months of June ndash

September) which according to estimates is greater than the combined annual flows of the Ravi

Beas and the Sutlej rivers which feed the Indus basin The 75 dependable flow is 28 MAF (34537

MCM) Till the beginning of planned development in the country was started in 1946 this huge

potential went almost abegging without any effective utilization thus denying much needed succour

to the drought stricken people of the valley both in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Since then plans

have been evolved debated finally legally examined and adjudicated by a tribunal agitated by

NGOs The Supreme Court has finally intervened to ensure that the implementation of the projects is

not halted

Early background and dispute

Investigations for harnessing the Narmada waters started around the time of independence when

Central Waterways Irrigation and Navigation Commission) (CWINC) identified several storage

schemes and in 1948 the Khosla Committee prioritized the proposals and named Tawa Bargi

Punasa and Bharuch projects (the last three on the main stem of the river) for preparation of

reports The reports were ready by 1963 A parallel study of the Hydropower potential identified 16

sites with a potential of 1300 MW While the project in Gujarat called Baruch Weir project (for which

Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone in 1961) went through a series of modifications and

improvements with a reformed scheme at Navagam village to extend benefits up to the Rann of

Kutch but following the bifurcation of the erstwhile Bombay state into Maharashtra and Gujarat

states and Gujaratrsquos intent to raise the height of the dam at Navagam to maximize storage benefits

at the cost of submergence of potential hydropower sites in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

created a dispute between the states This resulted in an impasse in the implementation o f the

agreed projects at Navagam in Gujarat Punasa in MP and Bargi dam in MP and power benefit

sharing among the states with MP refusing to ratify the agreements To break the logjam a high

level Committee was appointed by the Govt of India in Septembe r 1964 In 1965 the Committee

prepared a Master Plan for the basin which involved construction of 12 major projects in MP and the

Navagam dam in Gujarat It provided irrigation priority over power irrigation of 2630 kmsup2 in MP

400 kmsup2 in Maharashtra 1850 kmsup2 in Gujarat and 4000 kmsup2 in Rajasthan The storages it

recommended in MP involved Bargi Tawa and Narmadasagar (Punasa) while its proposed Navagam

high dam would submerge the hydelpower project sites of Jalasindhi (in Maharshtra) and Harinphal

(MP) but without any more submergence than would be caused by the three dams if separately

constructed Gujarat endorsed this proposal but Maharashtra was not willing to go by it After

intense parleys failed to resolve the problem GOI decided to set up the Narmada Water Disputes

Tribunal (NWDT) in 1969 under the Inter State Water Disputes Act 1956 to adjudicate on the

dispute relating to sharing of water of the inter-state river Narmada and its valley

Tribunal award After ten years of deliberations the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) gave

its award in December 1979 The NWDT considering the development of the water resources of the

basin as a whole gave its award allocating share of water (after accepting the mutually agreed

settlement among the four party states in 1974 on sharing of the waters of Narmada on the basis

of a determination by the Tribunal of the height of the Navagam dam or the Sardar Sarovar dam)

and Hydro Power of the Sardar Sarovar Project

The Tribunalrsquos final order determined the utilizable quantum of Narmada waters to be 27 million

acre feet at 75 dependability and allocated it to the four states as in Table below including share

of power benefits It also stipulated the share of water when utilizable flow was in excess of 28

million acre feet The Navagam dam height was fixed at FRL 460 feet (140 m) with a maximum water

level of EL feet The Full Supply Level of the Navagam canal was fixed at 300 feet (91 m) The cost

sharing formula among the states and the consequent requirement of release of regulated releases

from the Narmada Sagar dam by MP was also spelt out The resettlement and rehabilitation package

was also clearly specified with all costs to be borne by Gujarat for all resettlement and rehabilitation

work of people affected in the three states and also for relocating any ancient or historic

monuments places of worship or idols likely to suffer submergence

Party state Alloted share of

water in million

acre feet (MAF)

share of

power

Madya Pradesh 1825 57

Gujarath 9 16

Maharastra 025 27

Rajastan 05 Nil

Total 28 100

The uniqueness of this Award is that a non riparian state ndash Rajasthan ndash has been allocated a share of

Narmada waters for meeting the water requirements of the drought prone districts of Barmer and

Jalore which have no other source of dependable water

Go ahead for the projects The work on the project did not start soon since extensive studies were

undertaken for project designing and with World Bank getting involved with funding studies and

project costs (Loan agreement with GOI of $450 million was signed in May 1985) the Resettlement

and Rehabilitation package was substantially revised over and above what was set in the NWDT

and environmental studies had to be undertaken But the environmental and forest cle arances for

the projects from the newly formed Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEampF) involved

extensive inter-ministerial and inter departmental discussions (within the central govt and with state

govts) for a substantial period and it was only in June 1987 (almost 8 years after the NWDT award

was given in Dec 1979) that the MoEampF gave a conditional approval to the Sardar Sarovar and

Narmada Sagar Projects The Forest clearance was given in September 1987 for Sardar Sarovar only

The clearance also required the work to be done pari passu with the construction of the dams and

the filling of the reservoir In the mean time the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) an inter-State

Administrative Authority and the Sardar Sarovar Construction Advisory Committee (SSCAC) were set

up in 1980 by the Govt of India in compliance of the NWDT award the former organization was set

up in Dec 1980 as body corporate with representatives from the four party states and Govt of India

as a machinery to implement the decisions and directions of the NWDT and the later organization

was set up in Sept 1980 as a statutory body to ensure efficient economical and timely execution of

the Unit I (Dam amp appurtenant works) and Unit III (Hydropower works) of the Sardar Sarovar Project

(SSP) A Review Committee consisting of the Union Minister for Irrigation (now substituted by Union

Minister for Water Resources) as its Chairperson and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra Gujarat and Rajasthan as its members is also in position to review the decisions of the

NCA and the SSCAC as required For monitoring and implementation of various environmental

activities effectively independent machinery of Environment Sub-Group is functioning since

Nov1987 under NCA Similarly for monitoring the progress of the resettlement and rehabilitation of

project affected people RampR subgroup is also functioning under the NCA At the state level Sardar

Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) in Gujarat has the mandate to implement and manage the

Sardar Sarovar multipurpose project In Madhya Pradesh the Narmada Valley Development

Authority (NVDA) is vested the responsibility for implementation of the projects

Narmada River

Layout of Water Resources Development Projects in the Narmada Basin in Gujarat amp Madhya

Pradesh

Even though the tribunal award resolved the initial issue of water sharing however the height of

dam benefit sharing and the mode of settlement of project-affected people caused serious

difficulties in implementation particularly of the Sardar Sarovar dam (the terminal dam on the river)

Project-affected people agitated under the banner of the dedicated NGO - The Narmada Bachao

Andolan (NBA) The NBA followed up by Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court The

NBA questioned the benefits claimed from the major projects challenged the resettlement and

rehabilitation packages for project affected people of the reservoir submergence and canal affected

zones and its implementation It also rejected the environmental impact assessments made and the

remedial actions taken by the project authorities This challenge created worldwide attention to the

major development activity planned in the valley It urged the World Bank to withdraw from the

project and the intense world wide pressure resulted in the Bank mounting an Independent Review

Mission (IRM) called the Morse Mission to review the SSP But the IRMrsquos report was neither

accepted by the Government of India or the World Bank Finally Government of India decided to

terminate further drawals from a remaining $180 million World Bank credit from the Bank with the

firm resolution that the project would be completed within the national resources

The Supreme Court has also deliberated on this issue for several years but finally upheld the Tribunal

Award and allowed the construction to proceed subject to conditions The Court introduced a

mechanism to monitor the progress of resettlement pari-passu with the raising of the height of the

dam through Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA) in each of the party states The courtrsquos decision

referred in this document given in the year 2000 after 7 years of deliberations has paved the way

for completing the project to attain full envisaged benefits Some of the courtrsquos decisions are

essential to be quoted here (quoted in italics) to set at rest many of the distorted or incorrect

versions being presented in several of the linked Wikipedia articles on this subject

The overall plan for development ultimately conceived involves 30 major dams including Sardar

Sarovar (21 irrigation 5 hydropower and 4 multipurpose) some 135 medium dams and over three

minor dams in MP along the main stem of the river and its 41 tributaries to utilize its allocated share

of 1825 MAF before 2025 (within 45 years of the NWDT award) In addition to power generation

and irrigation within the basin water was allocated for domestic and industrial water uses and for

multipurpose trans-basin diversions to Son and Tons basins in eastern MP drought prone areas of

Saurashtra Kutch northern mainland in Gujarat and southern Rajasthan Irrigation benefits to the

extent of about 40000 to 50000 kmsup2 (of drought prone and scarcity areas) and power generation of

2600 MW were also envisaged Thus the Narmada river development is envisaged as a multi state

program for development of hydropower and irrigation dams and their associated irrigation

networks

Justice Bharucha stated that Considering the magnitude of rehabilitation involving a large

percentage of tribals loss of extensive forest area rich in biological diversity enormous

environmental cost of the project and considering the fact that the basic data on vital aspects are

still not available there could be but one conclusion that the project(s) are not ready for approval

Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) at Navagam Subsequent to the Tribunal award and approval to the

project in 1987 by the Ministry of Water Resources with due clearances from the MoEampF

implementation of the SSP was taken up as the terminal project on the main stem of the Narmada

in Gujarat to utilize the share of allocated water to Gujarat and Rajasthan The concrete gravity dam

of 1210 m length and 163 m height above foundation with storage capacity of 77 million acre -feet

and reservoir length of 213 m extending into Gujarat Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is designed

to provide an annual irrigation of 18000 kmsup2 in Gujarat (covering 3360 villages of 62 talukas in 14

districts) 4260 kmsup2 in Rajasthan and hydel power generation of 1450 MW As a result of

construction of the dam over 48269 families (against 7000 families assessed in 1979 by the

Tribunal) will be affected as per the latest figures of NCA in the three States spread over 244

villages (4 fully and 240 partially - 39369 in MP in 192 villages 4163 in Maharshtra in 33 villages and

4737 in Gujarat in 19 villages) the total area affected being 37533 kmsup2 The submergence area is

broadly divided into two areas fully tribal area which covers the initial reach of about 100 or so

villages which are almost 100 tribal and hilly These include al l the 33 villages of Maharashtra (in

Nadurbar district) all 19 of Gujarat and many of the Madhya Pradesh The second part of the

submergence area is the mixed population area on the Nimad plains with a very well developed

economy that is well connected to the mainstream Considered as the largest water resources

project of India in terms of benefits some of the special features of the project are the following

Damrsquos spillway discharging capacity (307 million cusecs) is the 3rd highest in the world

With 1133 msup3s (40000 ftsup3s) capacity at the head regulator and 532 km length (458 km in

Gujarat and 74 km in Rajasthan) with 75000 km length of distribution system including field

channel the Narmada Main Canal is the largest irrigation canal in the world

The project aims at supplying 3571000 msup3day of drinking water (2900000 msup3day for domestic

consumption amp 671000 msup3day for industrial consumption) to 8215 villages amp 135 towns in Gujarat

which are presently suffering from acute shortage of water Also the project aims to provide

drinking water facilities to a population of about 1371000 in 1107 villages amp two towns in Jallore amp

Barmer districts of Rajasthan

Has the lowest ratio of submergence to area irrigated ndash being 165 of CCA against an average of

4 to 5 of other major irrigation projects

All the 6 units of River Bed Power House (RBPH) have been commissioned successfully by June 2006

and are in operation All the five units of Canal Head Power House (CHPH) have been commissioned

successfully by end of December 2004 and are in operation

The construction of the two multipurpose major projects - the Sardar Sarvoar in Gujarat and Indira

Sagar in Madya Pradesh - the two are interdependent to attain full envisaged benefits - is in progress

and substantial partial benefits have already been achieved Hence details of these two projects are

elaborated below

Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat partially completed (up to EL12192 m)

Largest lined canal in the World Sardar Sarovar Project

The dam has attained a height of EL12192 m ie the crest level of the spillway The gates are yet to

be erected to attain the FRL of EL 13868 m for which clearance is required from the Supreme Court

after the Grievance Redressal Committee submits its report on completion of R amp R up to that

elevation Top level of dam to be attained is EL 14650 m

The main irrigation canal has been substantially constructed for a length of 357 km Water has been

let into the canal for partial irrigation and water supply needs Further construction is in progress

Indira Sagar Project (ISP) in Madhya Pradesh at Punasa is one of the 30 major projects proposed in

the Narmada basin with the largest storage capacity in the country The project is located near

Punasa village in Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh This Multipurpose River Valley Project

envisages construction of a concrete gravity dam 653 m long and 92 m high with gross storage

capacity of the reservoir of 1222 kmsup3 (99 MAF) and live storage of 975 kmsup3 (79MAF) to provide an

annual irrigation potential of 1690 kmsup2 and generation of 1000 MW of hydropower The project

shall also ensure supply of 006 MAF (74000000 msup3) of drinking water to rural areas in Khandwa

district In accordance with NWDT award an annual regulated flow of 812 MAF (10015 kmsup3) shall

be released to the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) ex-Maheshwar Project The operation of Indira Sagar

Project shall be carried out in such a way as to facilitate the regulation of Sardar Sarovar

Indira Sagar dam partially completed in Madhya Pradesh

Indira Sagar canal for irrigation

The dam and the powerhouse have been completed but storage has been restricted up to EL 260 m

under orders of the High Court Jabalpur from RampR consideration All the units of the powerhouse

have been commissioned and generation of power from the 8 units of 125 MW capacity each

commenced from Jan 2004[25]The irrigation component of the project is under a fairly advance

stage of implementation

Other completed and under construction projects Existing irrigation projects in the Narmada are the

1) Matiyari (1992) 2) Rani Avantibai Sagar (1988) 3) Barna (1978) 4) Tawa (1992-93) 5) Sukta

(1984) all in Madhya Pradesh and Karjan project in Gujarat

Projects under implementation are the 1) Bargi diversion 2) Kolar 3) Man 4) Omkareshwar

multipurpose (520 MW ndash commissioned in Nov 2007) and 5) Maheshwar (400 MW)

A large number of medium and small projects have been completed and many more are under

implementation as conceived under the overall Master Plan

Source [34]]

With the establishment of RCS all the dams and the hydroelectrical projects will get sufficient water

from the FPC1 and the West extension of FPC1 in this scenario if the levels of these projects are less

than 500 meters AMSL Problems like lsquohigh the magnitude of rehabilitation involving a large

percentage of tribals loss of extensive forest area rich in biological diversity enormous

environmental cost of the projectrsquo will not appear with RCS and all the states coming under this issue

like Madyapradesh Maharastra Gujarath and Rajastan will get more than sufficient water for

irrigation ndash industry ndash hydroelectrical projects ndash for domestic purposes

The cost will be less since (1) it involves only the creation of primary channel (2) there is no

necessity to construct the dams (3) there is no necessity to rehabilitate the people in a great way

since RCS involves very minimal area (4) no immersion of land like city and forest area in back water

in a bigger way (5) we may be creating U tubes in depressed lands in the course of primary channel

or the bi dam in a minimally depressed area but there is no back water issues in these and hence

land involved and rehabilitation are going to be less

All the water are used effectively and no water will enter the Arabian sea without being used

effectively over the land that is the more water generated beyond the storing capacity of the dam in

the rainy seasons will be effectively utilized all over the nation in the lands below 500 mts AMSL

65 FampF ndashWater dispute ndash Height of almatti dam

[Water disputes

Height of almatti dam

State gets a good deal Tribunal gives nod to raise Almatti dam height to 52425 meters

New Delhi In what could be a major relief to Karnataka the Krishna water disputes tribunal -2 has

allowed the state to build the Almatti dam up to the originally proposed height of 52425 meters

Major decisions Karnataka allowed to increase almatti dam height from 519 meters to 52425

meters Krishna waters decision Implementation Board to be set up will monitor flows Releases to

be monitored every 10 days Karnataka should release 8 to 10 tmc to AP in June and July Award to

come up for review in 2050

Water allocations Total water availability 2293tmc Andrapradesh 1001tmc Karnataka 911tmc

maharastra666tmc

This judgment has been given after 43 years of proceedings Source [37] ]

It is true by increasing the height of the dam from 519 to 52425 mts It is possible to store more

water that we can use it later

But what is the use if we are not getting sufficient water to fill the dam in one rain year As per the

calculation the total available water is 2293 TMC Andrapradesh is more benefitted from this

because there is more land available for agriculture and more population is going to be benefited If

the water generated is less then both the states are under loss The level of water (Height) in the

dam depends on the rain in the catchment area (Inflow) and the utilization in the process of

agriculture and others (out flow) If the inflow is steady throughout the year and the out flow is also

steady then both the states are going to be benefitted If we increase the height of the dam then we

may be storing more water but the back water may immerse more inhabited areas and it may

extend in the neighboring states like maharastra and other interstate issues and problems of

rehabilitation will arise

With RCS all such problems will be solved If we are creating the FPC1 at the level of 500mts AMSL

then the back water in the Almatti dam will raise only up to 500 (exactly 495) mts AMSL Any water

which is more than 500 mts AMSL will enter back in the FPC1 But the almatti dam will always be

able to relaease the water to both Karnataka and Andrapradesh what what ever amount they need

Here the total water availability 2293tmc and the allotted water to Andrapradesh 1001tmc and to

Karnataka is 911tmc Maharastra 666tmc With RCS the total water available becomes 10000 or

even more TMC and the states like Andrapradesh Karnataka and Maharastra can use 2000TMC or

even more if they want because the FPC1 will be continuously filled by the ri vers like Ganga ndash

Yamuna ndash Mahanadhi ndash Narnmada- Godhavari ndash Kaveri ndash and Krishna it iself

Thus we need not increase the height of the almatti dam lsquoin this instance onlyrsquo Increasing the height

of the dam may be the necessity in another instance that we need to discuss as such issues arises

Sources

[34] Britannica Concise Encyclopedia answerscom Wikipedia

[37] Deccan herald Mangalore Friday december31 2010 And Prajavani Kannada daily news paper

Mangalore Friday December 31 2010