Introduction

The Sardar Sarovar Project is an inter-state project with a terminal dam on river Narmada at Kevadia in Gujarat. It is meant to benefit the 4 states Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It is a multipurpose project with irrigation, power and drinking water benefits, which was accorded environmental clearance in June, 1987 with a proviso that the Environmental Action Plans would be implemented pari passu with the work on the project. The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) is presently at a height of 121.92 meters. Narmada, the largest west flowing river in India & the fifth largest river in the country, rises near Amarkantak range of mountains in Madhya Pradesh. It traverses Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and meets the Gulf of Cambay. It is considered as the dividing line between North India drained by the Gangetic basin, and Peninsular India. The total length of the river from source to Arabian Sea is 1312 kilometers (815 miles) while the length up to dam site is 1163 kilometers (723 miles). Only a few miles of the Narmada form part of the northwestern boundary of Maharashtra. Southern bank of river Narmada bounded by Satpura range of hills passes through Nandurbar District of Maharashtra with a stretch of 73 km. Its principal tributaries are Burhner, Tawa, Hiran, Barna, Kolar and Orsang. Although entirely rain fed, the Narmada has a fairly heavy discharge because of moderately heavy annual average rainfall in the basin, particularly in the upper catchment area. The total catchment area of the river is 97,410 square kilometer comprising 85,859 Sq. Kms in Madhya Pradesh, 1658 Sq. Kms in Maharashtra and 9894 Sq. Kms in Gujarat. Its Catchment area at dam site is about 88000 Sq. Kms. The Mean annual rainfall in its basin is 1180 mm (46.45 inches) and Average annual runoff is 41000 M.Cu.M.(33.21 MAF).

Objective
The main objective of the sardar sarovar dam is to provide pure drinking water and for the irrigation purpose. Other objective is to generate electricity.

Environmental Clearance for SSP

Ministry of Water Resources had issued detailed guidelines in October, 1980 for project formulations which included a detailed check-list by the MoEF, for assessment of environmental impact of the project and planning for Environmental Safeguard Measures. In accordance with the requirement of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), project authorities submitted the detailed project report (DPR) along with information on environmental issues during February to October 1980. Environmental Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests approved the project in principle during its 12 thmeeting held in 1983. The three States, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh provided all the necessary information. The studies, action plans and data were considered and the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat was formally cleared from environmental angle on 24th June 1987 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Permission for diversion of the forestland was also accorded by MoEF during September 1987. The Investment Clearance of an estimate cost of Rs 6,406 crores for the project was issued by the Planning Commission during October 1988, thus paving way for implementation of the project. Before a formal clearance by the MoEF, Narmada Control Authority (NCA) was expanded and was entrusted with the increased responsibilities in the areas of environment and rehabilitation. The clearances issued subsequent to the expansion of the NCA by the Central Government departments, contained certain conditions to be complied with during the course of project implementation regarding following parameters:

Rehabilitation master plan Phased Catchment Area Treatment Scheme Compensatory A forestation plan Command Area Development Survey of flora and fauna, carrying capacity of surrounding area Seismicity Health Aspects NCA was given the responsibility to ensure that the environmental safeguard

measures would be planned and implemented in depth and the pace of its implementation would be pari-passu with the progress of the work on the projects. The four conditions of the clearance were:

The Narmada Control Authority will ensure that the environmental safeguard measures are planned and implemented pari passu with the progress of the work on the Project.

The detailed surveys / studies would be done. Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) and rehabilitation programs would be completed ahead of the reservoir filling.

The MoEF would be kept informed of the progress periodically.

Forest Clearance for SSP

In September 1987, under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 the Central government approved the diversion of over 13,386 hectares of forest land for the Sardar Sarovar Project. This approval was subject to eleven conditions in all three states, of which the following are especially important.

Detailed Compensatory Forestation plans would be submitted. A proposal for non-forest areas for rehabilitation of ousters would be submitted. Compensatory Forestation would be in double the area of degraded forestlands in addition to the forestation of equivalent non-forestland, and a scheme for this would be submitted.

A Catchment area treatment plan will be prepared by November 30, 1987, failing which a central government team would be appointed at a cost to the project.

Structure of Main Dam

REHABILITATION WORKS:
A total of 37533 ha. land will be submerged due to construction of the dam in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

CANAL NETWORK
The Narmada Main Canal (NMC) also known as Navagam Main Canal off-takes from Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat at a full supply level (FSL) of 91.44 m (300 ft.) and traverses through a distance of 458.412 km before entering Rajasthan near village Silu, Tehsil Sanchore, district Jalore. The section of the main canal at head & tail is 73.1 m x 7.6 m and 10.3 m x 4.4 m respectively with side slopes of 2:1. It is provided with 1.25 m lined freeboard and 0.25m bank freeboard at head and tail respectively. The bed slope of the canal is 1:12500 from km 0 to 144.5 of NMC and 1:15500 there after, up to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. The entire length of NMC is to be lined with M-15 grade controlled concrete. There are 196 structures on the main canal up to km 144.5, and in all about 600 structures up to its tail end. The entire main canal portion in Gujarat is planned to be completed in two phases. Phase - I of the main canal envisages construction up-to Ch. 144.5 km (i.e. upto Mahi river crossing) and the remaining reach from Mahi river crossing up-to Ch. 458.412 km (i.e. upto GujaratRajasthan border) will be covered under Phase II. There will be 42 branch canals having a total length of 3500 km (including sub-branches) taking off from NMC with discharges reducing from 320 cumecs to 3 cumecs. The major branches of the system are Miyagam branch (86.66km), Vadodara branch (115.00km), Saurashtra branch (104.60 km) and Kachchh branch (329.18 km). The largest branch in capacity is the Saurashtra branch, which negotiates a series of falls and lifts. The Kachchh branch crosses a depression connecting Little Rann of Kachchh. This depression is planned to be negotiated through falls and lifts.

Distribution system will comprise of 7500 km of distributaries and nearly 30000 km of minors and sub-minors. The aggregate length of the distribution network including field channels will be about 75000 km

FINANCIAL PROGRESS:
The estimated cost of the Sardar Sarovar Project as approved by the Planning Commission is Rs.6406.04 crore at 1986-87 price level. Revised Estimated Cost of the project at 2008-09 price level is Rs 39240.44 crore. An expenditure of Rs. 37300.69 crore has been incurred on the project up to the end of Seotenber, 2012. The expenditure booked under Unit-I (Dam & Appurtenant works) is Rs 4918.53 crore, excluding the Group-V (Common expenditure) component. The expenditure booked under Unit-III (Hydropower works) is Rs. 2910.47 Crore, excluding Group-V component. Similarly, excluding Group-V the expenditure booked under Unit-II (Main Canal works) and Group-IV (works of Branches & Distribution system) are Rs. 5738.11 crore and Rs. 11741.33 crore respectively. Certain expenditures common to all work components - including the interest component of market borrowings - have been booked under Group-V (Common Expenditures) and it amounts to Rs. 14038.91 Crore. Other expenditures incurred by Government of Gujarat - which are not shareable are booked under Group-VI (Non Shareable Expenditure) amounting to Rs. (-1452.93) crore.