In this chapter the facts and figures related to the reservoirs in India is mentioned. With reticular canal system it is possible to maintain the optimum water level in all the reservoirs which comes below that particular primary canal which is interlinking the adjacent rivers and it is possible to release optimum water to the land depending on that reservoir in all the season as per the need, with this most of the disputes related to the water distribution will come to the end.

1. Contentsof Section5: Reticularcanal system forInterlinkingIndianRivers.
Chapter6-Facts and figuresrelatedtoReservoirsof India.
6.1-F&F – ReservoirsanddamsinIndia.
6.2-F&F – ProjectsacrossRiverkosi.
6.3-F&F – Irrigationprojectsalongthe riverGodavari.
6.4-F&F – Narmadariverwaterprojects.
6.5-F&F –Water dispute –Heightof almatti dam.
Chapter 6. Facts and figures related to
Reservoirs of India:
6.1 . F&F – Reservoirs and dams in India.
[Reservoirs and dams in India.
Map of the major rivers, lakes and reservoirs in India.
This page lists the reservoirs and dams in India.
Andhra Pradesh
 Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
 Srisailam Project
 Srisailam Dam
 Nizam Sagar
 joorala project
 rajolibanda dam
 kiol sagar

2.  Telugu Ganga
 Polavaram dam
 Nijam Sagar Reservoir
 Osman Sagar
 Sriram Sagar Reservoir
 Lower Maneru Reservoir
 Himayath Sagar Reservoir
 Dindi Reservoir
 Somasila
 Gandipalem Reservoir
 Dowleswaram Barrage
 prakasam barrage
 Tatipudi Reservoir
 Inchampalli
 Pulichintala
 Ellammpalli
 Singur Dam
 Dummagudem
 NagarjunaSagar TailPond
 Sunkesula
 Musi Reservoir
 pothireddy padu
 Ramagundam Dam
 Pranahita Chevella
 Intenuka Muriki Kaluva Reservoir
 jeri dam
Gujarat
 Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada river
 Ukai Dam near Surat
 Dharoi Dam on Sabarmati River near Dharoi
 Vasana Berej on Sabarmati River near Ahmedabad
 Check Dams
Himachal Pradesh+ Punjab
 Bhakra Dam on Sutlej river, near Nangal
 Gobind Sagar
 Maharana Pratap Sagar
 Pong Dam Reservoir on Beas River, near Talwara.
 Pandoh Dam on Beas River, near Mandi.
 Chamera Dam on Ravi River near Chamba.
 Nathpa Dam on Sutlej River near Rampur.

3. Jammu and Kashmir
 Salal Project
Jharkhand
 Maithon Dam
 Chandil Dam on Swarnarekha River near Chandil
Karnataka
 Hidkal Jalashaya (Dam) across Ghataprabha
 Dhupdal Reservior across Ghataprabha
 Krishna Raja Sagara Dam
 Alamatti Damacross Krishna
 Basava Sagara Dam
 Linganamakki dam
 Supa Dam
 Kodasalli Dam
 Kadra Dam
 Tunga Bhadra Dam
 Kabini Reservoir
 Harangi Dam
 Narayanpur Dam downstream of Alamatti Dam
 Garura Dam Krishna River
 Hemavathi Reservoir (Gorur Dam)
 Naviltheertha Dam across Malaprabha
 Nethravathi river
 Linganmakki Dam across Sharavathi River
 Gajanuru Dam across Tunga river
 Lakkavali Dam across Bhadra river
Kerala
 Banasura Sagar Dam
 Malampuzha Dam
 Chalakkudy Dam
 Peechi dam
 Vazhani dam
 Mangalam dam
 Mattupetty Dam
 Kundala dam in Munnar
 Parambikulam Dam
 Pothundi Dam
 Walayar Dam

4.  Idukki arch dam in idukki
 Mullaperiyar Dam
 Malankara Dam
 Neyyar Dam
 Siruvani Dam
 Meenkara Dam
 Kanjhirapuzha
 Chulliyar Dam
 Jeevana dam
Madhya Pradesh
 Bansagar
 Bargi Dam
 Barna Dam
 Gandhi Sagar dam
 Indirasagar
 Madikheda Dam
 Narmada Dam Project
 Rajghat
 Tawa Reservoir
 halali dam
 kolar dam
 kerwa dam
Maharashtra
 MULA Dam, Rahuri - River MULA
 Koyna Dam - River Koyna
 Jaikwadi
 Ujani -River Bhima
 Mulshi Dam - River Mula
 Khadakwasla - River Mutha
 Kolkewadi Dam
 Panshet - River Mutha
 Radhanagari
 Bhatsa
 Tansa
 Vaitarna
 Pawna - River Pawna
 Bhandardara
 Gangapur Dam, Nashik
 Ozarkhed Dam, Nashik
 Karanjwan Dam
 Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam

5.  Yeldari on Purna River Near Parbhani
 Siddheshwar on Purna River Near Parbhani
 Manar On River Manar Near Nanded
 Girna On River Girna
 Chaskaman On River Bhima Near Rajgurunagar
 Pravara On River Godavari
 Isapur Dam on River Painganga River.
 Bhadardara On River Pravara
Meghalaya
 Umiam Lake
Orissa
 Balimela Reservoir
 Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi River near Sambalpur
 Balimela Reservoir
 Jalaput on Machkund River near Jaypore, Koraput District
 Indravati Dam on river Indravati in kalahandi district
 Salia dam on river Kharkhari in Ganjam District
Tamil Nadu
 Aliyar Reservoir
 Amaravathi Reservoir
 Amaravathi Dam
 Anaikuttam Reservoir
 Anainaduvu Reservoir
 Bhavanisagar Reservoir
 Chittar Reservoir
 Chittar Reservoir-1
 Chittar Reservoir-2
 Gatana Reservoir
 Golwarpatti Reservoir
 Gomukhinadhi Reservoir
 Gundar Reservoir
 Gunderippalam Reservoir
 Kariakoil Reservoir
 Karupppanadhi Reservoir
 Kelavarapalli Reservoir
 Kesarigulihalla Reservoir
 Kodaganar Reservoir
 Kovilar Reservoir
 Krishnagiri Reservoir

6.  Kullursandai Reservoir
 Kutharaiyar Reservoir
 Lower Nirar Reservoir
 Manimukthanadhi Reservoir
 Manimuthar Reservoir
 Manjalar Reservoir
 Marudhanadhi Reservoir
 Mettur Dam
 Nagavathi Reservoir
 Noyyal Oarathuppalayam
 Palar Porandalar Reservoir
 Pambar Reservoir
 Parambikulam Reservoir
 Parappalar Reservoir
 Pechiparai Reservoir
 Periyar Reservoir (Pilavukkal Project)
 Periyar Reservoir
 Perumpallam Reservoir
 Perunchani Reservoir
 Peruvaripallam
 Ponnaniar Reservoir
 Ramanadhi Reservoir
 Sathanur Reservoir
 Sholayar Reservoir
 Siddhamalli Reservoir
 Soolagiri chinnar Reservoir
 Stanley Reservoir
 Thambalahalli Reservoir
 Thirumurthi Reservoir
 Thoppaiyar Reservoir
 Thunakadavu Reservoir
 Uppar Reservoir
 Upper Nirar Wier
 Vaigai Dam
 Vaigai Reservoir
 Vaniyar Reservoir
 Varadamanadhi Reservoir
 Varattupallam Reservoir
 Vattamalaikarai Odai Reservoir
 Vembakottai Reservoir
 Vidur Reservoir
 Willingdon Reservoir

7. Uttar Pradesh
 Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar on Rihand River in Sonbhadra
 Kalagarh Dam on Ramganga River in Kalagarh
 Parichha Dam on Betwa River in Parichha (Jhansi District).
 List of Dams in Lalitpur District, Uttar Pradesh
o (A) MatatilaDam constructedduring1952-1964 on BetwaRiverinLalitpurDistrict,Uttar Pradesh,
Length 6.30 km, Height 33.53 Meters, Area 20,720 Sq.km., Storage 1132.68 M.c.m
o (B) Jamni Dam constructed during 1962-1973 on Jamni River in Lalitpur District, Uttar Pradesh,
Length 6.40 km, Height 19.18 Meters, Area 414 Sq.km., Storage 92.89 M.c.m
o (C) Rohini Dam constructed during 1976-1984 on Rohini River in Lalitpur District, Uttar Pradesh,
Length 1.65km, Height 15.50 Meters, Area 44 Sq.km., Storage 12.12 M.c.m
o (D) Shahzad Dam constructed during 1973-1992 on Shahzad River in Lalitpur District, Uttar
Pradesh, Length 4.16 km, Height 18.00 Meters, Area 514 Sq.km., Storage 130.00 M.c.m
o (E) Govind Sagar Dam constructed during 1947-1953 on Shahzad River in Lalitpur District, Uttar
Pradesh, Length 3.60 km, Height 18.29 Meters, Area 368 Sq.km, Storage 96.8 M.c.m.
o (F) SajnamDam constructedduring1977-1990 on SajnamRiverin LalitpurDistrict,Uttar Pradesh,
Length 5.15 km, Height 18.78 Meters, Area 290 Sq.km., Storage 83.50 M.c.m
o (G) Sukma-Dukma Dam a below water construction on Betwa River near Jhansi District, Uttar
Pradesh, Length 2.15 km, Height 20.78 Meters
Uttarakhand
 Tehri dam
 Dhauli ganga dam
 Sriram Sagar
 Devadula Lift Irrigation Project
 Kaddam
 Manjira Reservoir
 Lower Tirna
 Purna
 Upper PenGanga
 Lower Dudhana
 Jayakwadi Dam
 Bhandara Reservoir
 Mula Reservoir
 Upper Pravara
 Upper Indravati Project
 Godavari Canal
 Upper WainGanga
 Majalgaon irrigation project is located in the Godavari river basin in the state of Maharashtra.

8. West Bengal
 Panchet Dam
Dam projects
 Narmada Dam Project
 Banasura Sagar Dam - Banasurasagar Project
 Noyyal River - Tanks System
 Farakka Barrage .
Source [34]
]
All the damsand the areas whichare below the level of 500mtsAMSL exceptin the states of Jammu
and Kashmir, Northestern states will get the water form RCS and the principle feeders will be the
Ganga and the Yamuna.
All the damsand the areas whichare below the level of 300mtsAMSL exceptin the states of Jammu
and Kashmir, Northestern states will get the water form RCS and the principle feeders will be the
Brahamaputra for the RCS.
All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 900mts AMSL in south deccan platue
especiallythe southerndistrictsof Karnataka,westerndistrictsof AndraPradeshand Tamilnadu will
get the water from the RCS and the principle feeders will be the River Kavery.
All the dams and the areas which are below the level of 800mts AMSL in north India like states of
Punjab,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, northern district of Uttarpradesh, Bihar which are north
to the course of Ganga and Yamuna will getthe waterfromthe RCS and the principle feederswill be
the Ganaga and Yamuna Rivers.
6.2 . F&F – Projects across River kosi.
[Kosi River.
Development scenario
Multipurpose projects
After India attained independence in August, 1947, the development scenario in India has been
resolute ontechnological development. In keeping with this approach, the National Flood Control
Policyin1954 (followingthe disastrousfloods of 1954 in a large part of the Koshi river basin) stated
that floodscouldbe controlledthroughaseries of flood protection works like dams, embankments
and rivertrainingworks.One suchworkwhichdrew the immediate attention of the policy planners
afterindependence wasasolutiontothe recurringfloodmenace facedbypeopleof NorthBihardue
to the Kosi and other rivers, flowing from Nepal to India. The Kosi project was thus conceptualized
(based on investigations between 1946 to 1955), in three continuous interlinked stages – the first
was a barrage to anchor thiswaywardriverthat had migratedabout 120 km (75 mi) westwardin the
last 250 years laying waste to a huge tract in north Bihar and to provide irrigation and power

9. benefitstoNepal andIndia.The second part was to build embankments both below and above the
barrage so as to jacket the river within the defined channel. The third part envisaged a high
multipurposedamwithinNepalatBarakshetratoprovide substantial floodcushion along with large
irrigation and power benefits to both countries. This was followed up by signing of the Kosi
Agreementbetween Nepal and India on 25 April 1954 and which was revised on 19 December 1966
to address the concerns of Nepal. Further letters of Exchange to the Agreement between the two
countries provided for additional schemes for providing benefits of irrigation. While the first two
parts of the conceptplanhave beenimplemented at the cost of the Government of India, the third
part, namely, the Koshi High dam, the kingpin of the whole concept, for various political reasons
precluded any action for several years but has since been revived under a fresh agreement, in a
modified form for further investigations and studies.
Details of the above projects are elaborated below.
Kosi barrage and irrigation:
Kosi Barrage,alsocalledBhimnagarBarrage after the name of the place where it was built between
the years 1959 and 1963 straddles the Indo-Nepal border. It is an irrigation, flood control and
hydropowergenerationproject on the Kosi river built under a bilateral agreement between Nepal
and India: the entire cost of the project was borne by India. The catchment area of the river is
61,788 km2
(23,856 sq mi) in Nepal at the Barrage site. The highest peaks – the Mount Everest and
the Mount Kanchenjunga — lie in its catchment. About 10% of this catchment is snow-fed. The
EasternCanal andthe WesternCanal takingoff fromthe barrage have beendesignedforadischarge
capacity of 455 cubic metres per second (16,100 cu ft/s) to irrigate 6,125 square kilometres
(1,514,000 acres) and 210 cubic metres per second (7,400 cu ft/s) to irrigate 3,566.1 square
kilometres(881,200 acres) respectively.A hydropower plant has been built on the Eastern Canal, at
a canal drop (3.6 km (2.2 mi) from the Koshi Barrage), to generate 20 MW. The Western Kosi Canal
provides irrigation to 250 square kilometres (62,000 acres) in Nepal. A valuable bridge over the
barrage opened up the East-West highway in the eastern sector of Nepal
An inundationcanal takingoff atChatra,where the Kosi debouchesintothe plains,hasbeen built to
irrigate a gross area of 860 km² in Nepal. The project has been renovated with IDA assistance after
Nepal took over the project in 1976.

10. Silt deposition near Kosi embankment at Navbhata, Saharsa, Bihar, India
Kosi embankment system:
The Kosi barrage withearth damsacross river,afflux bundsandembankmentsabove and below the
river confines the river to flow within embankments. Embankments on both sides downstream of
the barrage with a length of 246 km (153 mi) has been constructed to check the westward
movementof the river.The embankmentshave beenkeptwideapart, about 12 to 16 km (9.9 mi), to
serve as a silt trap
Sapta Kosi High Multipurpose Project (Indo-Nepal)
Governmentof India(GOI) andHisMajesty'sGovernmentof Nepal (HMGN),have agreed to conduct
jointinvestigationsand other studies for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Sapta
Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme to meet the
objectivesof boththe countriesforDevelopmentof a) hydropower generation,b) irrigation,c) flood
control/management and d) navigation.
A 269-metre (880 ft) high concrete/Rock fill dam on the Sapta Koshi River with a dam toe
underground power house with an installed capacity of 3000 MW at 50% load factor, a barrage on
river Sapta Kosi about 8 km (5.0 mi) downstream of Sapta Kosi High Dam to re-regulate the water
being released from the Sapta Koshi dam with two canals, Eastern Chhatra Canal and Western
Chhatra Canal,off-takingfromthe eitherbankfrombarrage site to provide water for irrigation both
in Nepal and India and Navigation through Koshi up to Kursela and also in the reservoir of Sapta
Koshi dam are envisaged.
A Power Canal off-taking from the Eastern Chatra Canal is proposed for conveying the water
required for irrigation at existing Kosi barrage at Hanuman Nagar and also the water which may be
requireddownstreamof HanumanNagar Barrage for the purpose of navigation. To utilize the head
available between Chatra and Hanuman Nagar barrages for power generation, three canal Power
Houses, each of 100 MW installed capacity are also proposed on power canal.

11. Necessary cushion in storage capacity of Sapta Kosi High Dam would be provided to moderate the
flood downstream of dam.
Chatra Canal Systemwouldprovide irrigationtolarge areasinNepal andIndia(particularlyin Bihar).
A Joint Project Office (JPO) has been set up in Nepal for investigation of the project.
Hydropower
Nepal hasa total estimatedpotentialof 83,290 MW out of whicheconomicallyexploitable potential
is 42,140 MW. The Koshi river basin contributes 22,350 MW of this potential.(360 MW from small
schemesand1875 MW frommajor schemes) andthe economically exploitable potential is assessd
as 10,860 MW (includesthe SaptaKoshi Multipurpose Project[3300MW] mentionedabove). Source
[34]
]
Damagesto the canal – embankment–hydroelectrical projectsare the possibilities if we create the
projects at places where we can expect high flow in short time of period. It is better to target the
water at higher level before they unite and form big volume of water at one point.
6.3 . F&F – Irrigation projects along the river Godavari.
[Godavari River Basin Irrigation Projects
Godavari River Delta
The Godavari Riverhasits catchment area in five states of India: Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.
 Dowleswaram Barrage
 Jalaput
 Balimela Reservoir
 Upper Indravati

12. Nizam Sagar
Dams and bridges along the river
A barrage was built on the river at Dowleswaram was built by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1850. It was
rebuilt as a barrage and roadway during 1980s and named after him. The roadway connects
Dowleswaram in East Godavari and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari.
There is also a big dam built just after the source of the river at Trimbakeshwar. The dam is in the
townof Gangapur,whichliterally means a town on a river. The dam provides drinking water to the
residents of Nashik and also supplies water to the thermal power station situated downstream at
Eklahara, which provides power to the town.
There is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River named Sri Ram Sagar Project in
Nizamabad District. It is in the town of Pochampad, 60km away from Nizamabad. It irrigates 4
districts of Northern Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power.
The Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is one of the largest earthen dam in India. This dam was built to
addressthe problemof droughtinMarathwada regionandproblemof floodalongthe bank of river.
Two 'left'and'right' canals provide the irrigation to fertile land up to Nanded district. This dam has
major contribution in industrial development of Aurangabad.
Source [34]
]
All the dams which are at the level of 500mts AMSL will receive the water from FPC1 and thoses at
or below the level of 300mts AMSL will receive the water from FPC4.
6.4 . F&F – Narmada river water projects.
[Narmada River
Narmada river development (NRD)
The Narmada river has a huge water resources potential, as much as 33.21 MAF (41,000 M.cum) of
average annual flow (more than 90% of this flow occurring during the monsoon months of June –
September), which according to estimates is greater than the combined annual flows of the Ravi,
Beasand the Sutlej rivers, which feed the Indus basin. The 75% dependable flow is 28 MAF (34,537
MCM). Till the beginning of planned development in the country was started in 1946, this huge
potential wentalmostabeggingwithoutanyeffectiveutilizationthusdenyingmuch needed succour
to the droughtstrickenpeople of the valley, both in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Since then plans
have been evolved, debated, finally legally examined and adjudicated by a tribunal, agitated by
NGOs.The Supreme Courthasfinallyintervenedtoensure thatthe implementationof the projectsis
not halted.

13. Early background and dispute
Investigationsforharnessingthe Narmada waters started around the time of independence, when
Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission) (CWINC) identified several storage
schemes and in 1948 the Khosla Committee prioritized the proposals and named Tawa, Bargi,
Punasa and Bharuch projects (the last three on the main stem of the river) for preparation of
reports.The reportswere readyby1963. A parallel studyof the Hydropower potential identified 16
siteswitha potential of 1300 MW. While the projectinGujarat calledBaruchWeirproject(forwhich
Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone in 1961) went through a series of modifications and
improvements with a reformed scheme at Navagam village to extend benefits up to the Rann of
Kutch, but following the bifurcation of the erstwhile Bombay state into Maharashtra and Gujarat
statesand Gujarat’sintenttoraise the height of the dam at Navagam to maximize storage benefits
at the cost of submergence of potential hydropower sites in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,
created a dispute between the states. This resulted in an impasse in the implementation of the
agreed projects at Navagam in Gujarat, Punasa in MP and Bargi dam in MP and power benefit
sharing among the states; with MP refusing to ratify the agreements. To break the logjam, a high
level Committee was appointed by the Govt. of India in September 1964. In 1965, the Committee
prepareda Master Planforthe basinwhichinvolvedconstructionof 12 majorprojectsin MP and the
Navagam dam in Gujarat. It provided irrigation priority over power; irrigation of 2,630 km² in MP,
400 km² in Maharashtra, 1,850 km² in Gujarat and 4,000 km² in Rajasthan. The storages it
recommendedinMPinvolvedBargi,Tawaand Narmadasagar(Punasa) while its proposed Navagam
highdam wouldsubmerge the hydelpowerprojectsitesof Jalasindhi (in Maharshtra) and Harinphal
(MP) but without any more submergence than would be caused by the three dams if separately
constructed. Gujarat endorsed this proposal but Maharashtra was not willing to go by it. After
intense parleys failed to resolve the problem, GOI decided to set up the Narmada Water Disputes
Tribunal (NWDT) in 1969 under the Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to adjudicate on the
dispute relating to sharing of water of the inter-state river Narmada and its valley.
Tribunal award: Aftertenyearsof deliberations,the NarmadaWaterDisputesTribunal (NWDT) gave
itsaward inDecember1979. The NWDT,consideringthe developmentof the water resources of the
basin as a whole, gave its award, allocating share of water (after accepting the mutually agreed
settlement among the four party states, in 1974, on sharing of the waters of Narmada on the basis
of a determination by the Tribunal of the height of the Navagam dam or the Sardar Sarovar dam)
and Hydro Power of the Sardar Sarovar Project.
The Tribunal’s final order determined the utilizable quantum of Narmada waters to be 27 million
acre feetat 75% dependabilityandallocatedittothe four states, as in Table below, including share
of power benefits. It also stipulated the share of water when utilizable flow was in excess of 28
millionacre feet.The NavagamdamheightwasfixedatFRL460 feet(140 m) witha maximum water
level of EL feet. The Full Supply Level of the Navagam canal was fixed at 300 feet (91 m). The cost
sharingformulaamongthe statesand the consequentrequirementof release of regulated releases
fromthe NarmadaSagar dam by MP was alsospeltout.The resettlementandrehabilitationpackage
was alsoclearlyspecifiedwithall coststobe borne by Gujarat for all resettlementandrehabilitation
work of people affected in the three states and also for relocating any ancient or historic
monuments, places of worship or idols likely to suffer submergence.

14. Party state Alloted share of
waterin million
acre feet(MAF).
% share of
power.
Madya Pradesh. 18.25 57
Gujarath. 9 16
Maharastra. 0.25 27
Rajastan. 0.5 Nil
Total. 28 100
The uniquenessof thisAwardisthata non riparianstate – Rajasthan – has been allocated a share of
Narmadawaters,for meetingthe water requirements of the drought prone districts of Barmer and
Jalore, which have no other source of dependable water.
Go ahead for the projects The work on the project did not start soon since extensive studies were
undertaken for project designing and with World Bank getting involved with funding studies and
projectcosts(Loan agreement with GOI of $450 million was signed in May 1985), the Resettlement
and Rehabilitation package was substantially revised, over and above what was set in the NWDT,
and environmental studies had to be undertaken. But the environmental and forest clearances for
the projects from the newly formed Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoE&F) involved
extensive inter-ministerial andinterdepartmental discussions(withinthe central govtandwithstate
govts.) for a substantial period and it was only in June 1987 (almost 8 years after the NWDT award
was given in Dec 1979) that the MoE&F gave a conditional approval to the Sardar Sarovar and
NarmadaSagar Projects.The Forestclearance wasgiven in September 1987 for Sardar Sarovar only.
The clearance also required the work to be done pari passu with the construction of the dams and
the filling of the reservoir. In the mean time, the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), an inter-State
Administrative Authorityandthe SardarSarovarConstructionAdvisoryCommittee (SSCAC) were set
up in1980 by the Govt. of Indiaincompliance of the NWDT award; the former organization was set
up inDec. 1980 as bodycorporate withrepresentativesfromthe fourpartystatesand Govt.of India,
as a machinery to implement the decisions and directions of the NWDT and the later organization
was setup inSept.1980 as a statutorybodyto ensure efficient,economical and timely execution of
the Unit I (Dam & appurtenantworks) andUnitIII(Hydropowerworks) of the Sardar Sarovar Project
(SSP).A ReviewCommitteeconsistingof the UnionMinisterforIrrigation(now substituted by Union
Minister for Water Resources) as its Chairperson and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthanas itsmembersisalsoinpositiontoreview the decisions of the
NCA and the SSCAC, as required. For monitoring and implementation of various environmental
activities effectively, independent machinery of Environment Sub-Group is functioning since
Nov.1987 underNCA.Similarly,formonitoringthe progressof the resettlementandrehabilitationof
projectaffectedpeople,R&Rsubgroupis also functioning under the NCA. At the state level, Sardar
Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) in Gujarat has the mandate to implement and manage the
Sardar Sarovar multipurpose project. In Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada Valley Development
Authority (NVDA) is vested the responsibility for implementation of the projects.

15. Narmada River
Layout of Water Resources Development Projects in the Narmada Basin in Gujarat & Madhya
Pradesh
Even though the tribunal award resolved the initial issue of water sharing, however, the height of
dam, benefit sharing and the mode of settlement of project-affected people caused serious
difficultiesinimplementation,particularlyof the SardarSarovar dam (the terminal damonthe river).
Project-affected people agitated under the banner of the dedicated NGO - The Narmada Bachao
Andolan (NBA). The NBA followed up by Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court. The
NBA questioned the benefits claimed from the major projects, challenged the resettlement and
rehabilitationpackagesforprojectaffectedpeople of the reservoirsubmergence and canal affected
zonesandits implementation.Italsorejectedthe environmental impact assessments made and the
remedial actionstakenbythe projectauthorities.Thischallengecreatedworldwide attention to the
major development activity planned in the valley. It urged the World Bank to withdraw from the
projectand the intense worldwide pressure resultedinthe Bankmounting an Independent Review
Mission (IRM) called the Morse Mission to review the SSP. But the IRM’s report was neither
accepted by the Government of India or the World Bank. Finally Government of India decided to
terminate furtherdrawalsfrom a remaining $180 million World Bank credit from the Bank with the
firm resolution that the project would be completed within the national resources.
The Supreme Courthas alsodeliberatedonthisissue forseveral yearsbutfinallyupheldthe Tribunal
Award and allowed the construction to proceed, subject to conditions. The Court introduced a
mechanismtomonitorthe progressof resettlement pari-passu with the raising of the height of the
dam throughGrievance Redressal Authorities(GRA) ineach of the party states. The court’s decision
referredinthisdocument,given in the year 2000, after 7 years of deliberations, has paved the way
for completing the project to attain full envisaged benefits. Some of the court’s decisions are
essential to be quoted here (quoted in italics), to set at rest many of the distorted or incorrect
versions being presented in several of the linked Wikipedia articles on this subject.
The overall plan for development ultimately conceived involves 30 major dams including Sardar
Sarovar (21 irrigation,5 hydropower,and4multipurpose), some 135 medium dams, and over three
minordamsin M.P alongthe mainstemof the riverand its41 tributariestoutilize itsallocatedshare

16. of 18.25 MAF before 2025 (within 45 years of the NWDT award). In addition to power generation
and irrigation within the basin, water was allocated for domestic and industrial water uses and for
multipurposetrans-basin diversions to: Son and Tons basins in eastern MP, drought prone areas of
Saurashtra,Kutch,northern mainland in Gujarat, and southern Rajasthan. Irrigation benefits to the
extentof about40,000 to 50,000 km² (of droughtprone andscarcity areas) and powergenerationof
2,600 MW were alsoenvisaged.Thus,the Narmadariver development is envisaged as a multi state
program for development of hydropower and irrigation dams and their associated irrigation
networks.
Justice Bharucha stated that "...Considering the magnitude of rehabilitation, involving a large
percentage of tribals, loss of extensive forest area rich in biological diversity, enormous
environmental cost of the project and considering the fact that the basic data on vital aspects are
still notavailable there couldbe butone conclusion,thatthe project(s) are notreadyforapproval..."
Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) at Navagam. Subsequent to the Tribunal award and approval to the
project in 1987 by the Ministry of Water Resources with due clearances from the MoE&F,
implementationof the SSP was taken up as the terminal project on the main stem of the Narmada,
inGujarat, to utilize the share of allocatedwatertoGujaratand Rajasthan.The concrete gravity dam
of 1210 m length and 163 m height above foundation with storage capacity of 7.7 million acre-feet
and reservoirlengthof 213 m extendingintoGujarat,Maharashtraand Madhya Pradesh is designed
to provide an annual irrigation of 18,000 km² in Gujarat (covering 3360 villages of 62 talukas in 14
districts), 4,260 km² in Rajasthan and hydel power generation of 1450 MW. As a result of
construction of the dam over 48,269 families (against 7000 families assessed in 1979, by the
Tribunal) will be affected, as per the latest figures of NCA, in the three States spread over 244
villages (4 fully and 240 partially - 39369 in MP in 192 villages, 4163 in Maharshtra in 33 villages and
4737 in Gujarat in 19 villages); the total area affected being 375.33 km². The submergence area is
broadly divided into two areas, fully tribal area which covers the initial reach of about 100 or so
villages which are almost 100% tribal and hilly. These include all the 33 villages of Maharashtra (in
Nadurbar district), all 19 of Gujarat and many of the Madhya Pradesh. The second part of the
submergence area is the mixed population area on the Nimad plains with a very well developed
economy that is well connected to the mainstream. Considered as the largest water resources
project of India in terms of benefits, some of the special features of the project are the following.
 Dam’s spillway discharging capacity (3.07 million cusecs) is the 3rd highest in the world
 With 1133 m³/s (40,000 ft³/s) capacity at the head regulator and 532 km length (458 km in
Gujarat and 74 km in Rajasthan) with 75,000 km length of distribution system including field
channel, the Narmada Main Canal is the largest irrigation canal in the world.
 The project aims at supplying 3571,000 m³/day of drinking water (2900,000 m³/day for domestic
consumption&671,000 m³/dayforindustrial consumption) to 8215 villages & 135 towns in Gujarat,
which are presently suffering from acute shortage of water. Also, the project aims to provide
drinkingwaterfacilitiesto a population of about 1,371,000 in 1107 villages & two towns in Jallore &
Barmer districts of Rajasthan.

17.  Has the lowestratioof submergence toareairrigated – being1.65% of CCA against an average of
4 to 5% of other major irrigation projects.
All the 6 unitsof RiverBedPowerHouse (RBPH) have beencommissioned successfully by June 2006
and are inoperation.All the fiveunitsof Canal HeadPowerHouse (CHPH) have been commissioned
successfully by end of December 2004 and are in operation.
The construction of the two multipurpose major projects - the Sardar Sarvoar in Gujarat and Indira
Sagar in Madya Pradesh - the two are interdependenttoattainfull envisagedbenefits - isinprogress
and substantial partial benefitshave alreadybeenachieved.Hence,detailsof these two projects are
elaborated below.
Sardar Sarovar Dam, Gujarat, partially completed (up to E.L.121.92 m)
Largest lined canal in the World Sardar Sarovar Project.
The dam has attaineda heightof EL.121.92 m i.e.the crestlevel of the spillway. The gates are yet to
be erectedtoattain the FRL of EL 138.68 m forwhichclearance is required from the Supreme Court
after the Grievance Redressal Committee submits its report on completion of R & R up to that
elevation. Top level of dam to be attained is EL 146.50 m.

18. The main irrigationcanal hasbeensubstantiallyconstructed for a length of 357 km. Water has been
let into the canal for partial irrigation and water supply needs. Further construction is in progress.
Indira Sagar Project (ISP) in Madhya Pradesh at Punasa is one of the 30 major projects proposed in
the Narmada basin with the largest storage capacity in the country. The project is located near
Punasa village in Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh. This Multipurpose River Valley Project
envisages construction of a concrete gravity dam, 653 m long and 92 m high with gross storage
capacityof the reservoirof 12.22 km³ (9.9 MAF) and live storage of 9.75 km³ (7.9MAF) to provide an
annual irrigation potential of 1,690 km², and generation of 1000 MW of hydropower. The project
shall also ensure supply of 0.06 MAF (74,000,000 m³) of drinking water to rural areas in Khandwa
district. In accordance with NWDT award, an annual regulated flow of 8.12 MAF (10.015 km³) shall
be releasedtothe Sardar SarovarProject(SSP),ex-MaheshwarProject.The operationof IndiraSagar
Project shall be carried out in such a way as to facilitate the regulation of Sardar Sarovar.
Indira Sagar dam partially completed in Madhya Pradesh
Indira Sagar canal for irrigation
The dam and the powerhouse have been completed but storage has been restricted up to EL 260 m
under orders of the High Court, Jabalpur from R&R consideration. All the units of the powerhouse
have been commissioned and generation of power from the 8 units of 125 MW capacity each

19. commenced from Jan 2004.[25]
.The irrigation component of the project is under a fairly advance
stage of implementation.
Othercompletedandunderconstructionprojects Existingirrigationprojectsin the Narmada are the
1) Matiyari (1992), 2) Rani Avantibai Sagar (1988), 3) Barna (1978), 4) Tawa (1992-93), 5) Sukta
(1984) all in Madhya Pradesh, and Karjan project in Gujarat.
Projects under implementation are the 1) Bargi diversion, 2) Kolar, 3) Man, 4) Omkareshwar
multipurpose (520 MW – commissioned in Nov. 2007) and 5) Maheshwar (400 MW)
A large number of medium and small projects have been completed and many more are under
implementation, as conceived under the overall Master Plan.
Source [34]
]
Withthe establishmentof RCS,all the damsand the hydroelectrical projectswillgetsufficient water
fromthe FPC1 andthe Westextensionof FPC1inthisscenarioif the levelsof these projects are less
than 500 meters AMSL. Problems like ‘high the magnitude of rehabilitation, involving a large
percentage of tribals, loss of extensive forest area rich in biological diversity, enormous
environmental costof the project’will notappearwithRCSandall the statescomingunderthisissue
like Madyapradesh, Maharastra, Gujarath and Rajastan will get more than sufficient water for
irrigation – industry – hydroelectrical projects – for domestic purposes.
The cost will be less since (1) it involves only the creation of primary channel, (2) there is no
necessity to construct the dams, (3) there is no necessity to rehabilitate the people in a great way
since RCSinvolvesveryminimal area(4) noimmersionof landlike city and forest area in back water
ina biggerway(5) we maybe creatingU tubesindepressed lands in the course of primary channel
or the bi dam in a minimally depressed area, but there is no back water issues in these and hence
land involved and rehabilitation are going to be less.
All the water are used effectively and no water will enter the Arabian sea without being used
effectivelyoverthe landthatisthe more watergeneratedbeyondthe storingcapacityof the dam in
the rainy seasons will be effectively utilized all over the nation in the lands below 500 mts AMSL.
6.5 . F&F –Water dispute – Height of almatti dam.
[Water disputes:
Height of almatti dam.
State gets a good deal. Tribunal gives nod to raise Almatti dam height to 524.25 meters.
New Delhi: In what could be a major relief to Karnataka, the Krishna water disputes tribunal-2 has
allowed the state to build the Almatti dam up to the originally proposed height of 524.25 meters.
Major decisions: Karnataka allowed to increase almatti dam height from 519 meters to 524.25
meters.KrishnawatersdecisionImplementationBoardtobe set up: will monitor flows. Releases to

20. be monitored every 10 days. Karnataka should release 8 to 10 tmc to AP in June and July. Award to
come up for review in 2050.
Water allocations: Total water availability: 2293tmc, Andrapradesh 1001tmc, Karnataka 911tmc,
maharastra666tmc.
This judgment has been given after 43 years of proceedings. Source [37]
]
It is true, by increasing the height of the dam from 519 to 524.25 mts. It is possible to store more
water, that we can use it later.
But whatis the use if we are not getting sufficient water to fill the dam in one rain year. As per the
calculation the total available water is 2293 TMC, Andrapradesh is more benefitted from this
because there ismore landavailable foragriculture andmore populationisgoingto be benefited. If
the water generated is less then both the states are under loss. The level of water (Height) in the
dam depends on the rain in the catchment area (Inflow) and the utilization in the process of
agriculture andothers(outflow).If the inflow issteadythroughoutthe year and the out flow is also
steadythenboththe statesare going to be benefitted.If we increase the heightof the dam then we
may be storing more water but the back water may immerse more inhabited areas and it may
extend in the neighboring states like maharastra and other interstate issues and problems of
rehabilitation will arise.
WithRCS all such problems will be solved. If we are creating the FPC1 at the level of 500mts AMSL,
thenthe back water in the Almatti dam will raise only up to 500 (exactly 495) mts AMSL. Any water
which is more than 500 mts AMSL will enter back in the FPC1. But the almatti dam will always be
able to relaease the watertobothKarnatakaand Andrapradeshwhat what ever amount they need.
Here the total water availability: 2293tmc, and the allotted water to Andrapradesh 1001tmc and to
Karnataka is 911tmc, Maharastra 666tmc. With RCS the total water available becomes 10000 or
even more TMC, and the states like Andrapradesh, Karnataka, and Maharastra can use 2000TMC or
even more if they want because the FPC1 will be continuously filled by the rivers like Ganga –
Yamuna – Mahanadhi – Narnmada- Godhavari – Kaveri – and Krishna it iself.
Thus we neednotincrease the heightof the almatti dam‘inthisinstance only’.Increasingthe height
of the dam maybe the necessity in another instance, that we need to discuss as such issues arises.
Sources:
[34] Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, answers.com, Wikipedia.
[37] Deccan herald,Mangalore,Friday,december31,2010. And Prajavani Kannadadailynewspaper,
Mangalore, Friday, December, 31, 2010.