In recent times, there has been growing tension between the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in India. The issue at hand involves the sharing of Narmada river waters. This controversy is centered on the Sardar Sarovar Dam, a major multi-purpose dam located in Gujarat, and the allocation of water resources to facilitate power generation.
The Crux of the Dispute
Madhya Pradesh has sparked off the dispute by posing threats to limit the inflow of water into the Sardar Sarovar Dam. This dam comprises two powerhouses – the River Bed Power House (RBPH), with a capacity of 1,200 MW, and the Canal Head Power House, generating 250 MW. These resources are divided amongst Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, adhering to a sharing ratio of 57:27:16 respectively.
Since 2017, the RBPH has remained non-functional. Gujarat advocates that operations should not resume until the dam’s water reaches the full reservoir level (FRL). From their perspective, given its share of 9 MAF (million-acre feet) in a year of normal monsoon, power generation is not viable as providing drinking water and irrigation are viewed as higher priorities.
Gujarat’s Stance
Apart from prioritizing drinking water and irrigation, Gujarat also contends the need to reach the FRL for testing purposes. It believes it is essential to verify if the heightened dam can cope with the increased thrust at that level. Accordingly, the Narmada Control Authority has agreed to delay generation at the powerhouse until the dam fills to full capacity.
Madhya Pradesh’s Grievances
Despite these explanations, Madhya Pradesh remains unsatisfied. The state is grappling with frequent power outages and has opposed releasing its surplus share for power generation. It has also refused to permit the dam to be tested at FRL.
Some Facts about the Issue
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Dam Location | Gujarat, India |
| Power Generation Units | Two Powerhouses (RBPH and Canal Head Power House) |
| Water Allocation Ratio | 57:27:16 (Madhya Pradesh : Maharashtra : Gujarat) |
| Year RBPH shut down | 2017 |
About the Sardar Sarovar Project
The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) is a notable gravity dam built on the Narmada River, which crosses Gujarat. This massive project, launched in 1979, entails a network of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi-purpose dams aimed at improving irrigation and generating hydroelectricity. While the hydroelectric power from SSP is shared between Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the irrigation benefits are reaped by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
