New Delhi, September 15: After clearing all legal hurdles, Sardar Sarovar Dam will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on his birthday on Sunday. Notably, it is the second highest dam in the World. The dam was closed in June for increasing its height from 121 metres to 138 metres. After the up gradation, the dam’s capacity to store water will also be increased from 4.73 million cubic metres (MCM) from the existing 1.27 million cubic metres.
- As per the website of the project, the Sardar Sarovar Project will provide irrigation facilities to 18.45 lac hectare of land, covering 3112 villages of 73 talukas in 15 districts of Gujarat.
- It will also irrigate 2,46,000 ha. of land in the strategic desert districts of Barmer and Jalore in Rajasthan and 37,500 ha. in the tribal hilly tract of Maharashtra through lift.
- About 75% of the command area in Gujarat is drought prone while entire command in Rajasthan is drought prone. Assured water supply will soon make this area drought proof.
- A special allocation of 0.86 MAF of water has been made to provide drinking water to 131 urban centres and 9633 villages (53% of total 18144 villages of Gujarat) within and outside command in Gujarat for present population of 28 million and a prospective population of over 40 million by the year 2021.
- All the villages and urban centres of the arid region of Saurashtra and Kachchh and all “no source” villages and the villages affected by salinity and fluoride in North Gujarat will be benefited.
- Water supply requirement of several industries will also be met from the project giving a boost to all-around production.
- It will also provide flood protection to riverine reaches measuring 30,000 ha. covering 210 villages and Bharuch city and a population of 4.0 lac in Gujarat.
