Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said the state government would spend Rs 525 crore on raising the height of Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada river, which is likely to be completed by February 2017.
“After a long wait of eight years, in June 2014 the Centre finally gave its clearance to Gujarat government to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar dam from 121.92 metres to 138.68 metres,” Patel told PTI after reviewing the ongoing work of installation of radial gates at the Sardar Sarovar dam at Kevadia town around 100 kms from here.
The Chief Minister visited Kevadia after inaugurating the ‘Statue of Unity’ foundation raft concrete work at Sadhu Bet island. Top officials of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited briefed her on the progress of work.
The government had sought the go ahead for the installation of 30 steel radial gates over Sardar Sarovar Dam, for which the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) had already given its nod to Gujarat government in June 2014, she said.
Sardar Sarovar Project is an ongoing, inter-state multi-purpose project on the Narmada river, which envisages hydro-power generation of 1,450 MW to be shared by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It will also provide water for irrigation to 17.92 lakh hectares of land in Gujarat and 2.46 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, she said.
“Raising the height means assured water for irrigation to an additional area of 6.8 lakh hectares, 40 per cent more power generation and enhanced water supply,” Patel said.
She added that the government intends to complete the work of raising the height of dam by February 2017, seven months ahead of its schedule.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Statue of Unity’ raft concrete work earlier, she said, “This huge construction work on 182 meters tall statue of Sardar Patel will be completed on June 3, 2018, which will cost around Rs 2,979 crore. The contract has been given to leading construction company Larsen and Toubro.”
“Rs 1,347 crore will be spent on the main statue, Rs 235 crore on the exhibition hall and convention center. Another Rs 83 crore will be spent on the bridge connecting the memorial to the main land, while Rs 657 crore will be for maintaining the structure for 15 years,” Patel said.
This statue would be double the size of New York’s ‘Statue of Liberty’ and would inspire future generations, she said, adding, “It would generate employment in the tribal areas of Narmada district as well as boost the tourism sector.