Gujarat puts Narmada dam project on fast track (The Hindu- 23 May 2010)

Manas Dasgupta

Overhauls administrative machinery for expeditious implementation

The Gujarat government has put the Narmada dam project on the fast track overhauling its administrative machinery for an expeditious implementation.

For the first time, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) has been allowed a free hand without any political interference. The project has been put into the hands of the bureaucrats for quick implementation.

Three senior IAS officers have been appointed simultaneously in the SSNNL with S. Jagadeeshan as its managing director and two more IAS officers, K. Srinivas and G. R. Aloria as joint managing directors, one looking after the administration and the other the funding issues, with another IAS officer, the retired Chief Secretary, R. Rajagopalan, heading the set-up as the chairman.

Even though nearly 60 per cent of the canal network is yet to be constructed, Chief Minister Narendra Modi told the SSNNL authorities that he wanted the project to be ready in the next three and half years, if possible around the time of the next Assembly elections due in December 2012. He has also told the Nigam that funds would be no constraint, if the machinery was ready to execute the works.

For the remaining works, including the final stage of the main dam construction, the State government has estimated a requirement of about Rs. 12,000 crore. With the Planning Commission giving its stamp of approval to the revised estimate of Rs. 39,240 crore for the project and sanctioning a Central grant of Rs. 7,000 crore for the canal networking in the drought-prone areas of the Kutch-Saurashtra region, the State government could now relatively breathe easy about the funding.