Sardar Sarovar Project

Rajya Sabha

The State Governments are required to submit the proposals for inclusion of new projects in the list of National Projects in prescribed format and as per procedure prescribed in the guidelines. Accordingly, no proposal has been received from Government of Gujarat for declaring Sardar Sarovar Project as National Project. Inclusion of a project as a national project is made by the Union Cabinet on case to case basis. Inclusion of any specific project as national project depends on submission of the proposal by the concerned state government and approval thereto of the Union Cabinet after following due procedure prescribed in the guidelines.

Sardar Sarovar Project is already eligible for 90% Central Grant for the irrigation component of the project falling under drought prone and tribal area. The Power Houses of the project had already been completed. Till date, the Sardar Sarovar Project has been provided with Central Assistance of Rs. 5375.3585 crore under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) which is highest Central assistance provided to any project in the country.

As per guidelines, the following are the criteria for declaring a project as National Project:-

1. International projects where usage of water in India is required by a treaty or where planning and early completion of the project is necessary in the interest of the country.

2. Inter-State projects which are dragging on due to non-resolution of Inter-State issues relating to sharing of costs, rehabilitation, aspects of power production etc., including river interlinking projects.

3. Intra-State projects with additional potential of more than 2.00.000 hectare (ha) and with no dispute regarding sharing of water and where hydrology is established.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Vincent H. Pala in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

SK/BS