Question : SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT

(a) whether a number of villages are likely to be submerged in the event of raising the height of the dam of the SardarSarovar Project (SSP) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether several eminent environmentalists and activists have protested over raising the height of the dam;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) whether the affected States were consulted before raising the height of the Dam; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the States thereto, indicating the benefits likely to accrue as a result thereof?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARATI)

(a)to(e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2014 REGARDING ‘SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT’
(a) No, Madam. No additional submergence is expected due to present permission for Phase-I construction.
(b)&(c) Yes Madam, the concerns of environmentalists, activists and others have been considered by Environment Sub-Group headed by Union Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; and Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Sub-Group headed by Union Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

(d)&(e) The representatives of party State Governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, as Members of Narmada Control Authority, have supported the proposal for Phase-I construction of SardarSarovar Dam. The Phase-I construction of SardarSarovar Dam would ensure completion of civil works of the dam, along with installation of gates in open or raised position.

The project envisages drinking water supply to 135 urban centres and 8215 villages in Gujarat and 2 urban centres and 1107 villages in Rajasthan, hydro-power generation of 1450 MW and irrigation benefits to 17.92 lakh hectares in Gujarat and 2.46 lakh hectares in Rajasthan. The benefited areas include drought ridden Kutchch, Saurashtra in Gujarat and Barmer and Jalore in Rajasthan.