The central government has given approval to raise the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada to its full height of 138.62 mtr.
Approval has been accorded to install 16.7 mtr high sluice iron gates on the dam to reach the full height needed for hydropower generation from the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) that was holding it back for the past eight years.
The project is being implemented by Sardar Sarovar Nigam. With approval from the government, construction work at the project site commenced on 12 June, 2014.
The project envisages hydropower generation of 1,450 MW to be shared by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. In addition, it will provide irrigation benefits to 17.92 lakh ha in Gujarat and 2.46 lakh ha in Rajasthan.
The project is also expected to supply drinking water in 135 urban centres and 8,215 villages in Gujarat and two urban centres and 1,107 villages in Rajasthan.