Gujarat communist leader supports raising SSP dam's height

Ahmedabad, Apr 9 (UNI) State Secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) A A Shaikh has expressed his solidarity with Gujarat-based Narmada Abhiyan, a prominent pro-dam NGO, in favour of raising the height of main dam of Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) on the Narmada.

Condemning the agitation by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists in the capital, Mr Shaikh has informed the Narmada Abhiyan that he would also attend the meeting at Sabarmati Ashram here tomorrow.

Mr Shaikh has, in a letter, informed the party headquarters about the state unit's continued support to inter-state multi-purpose project, dubbed as 'Lifeline of Gujarat', a Narmada Abhiyan release issued here yesterday said.

Rather, it said, CPI state unit has been supporting the cause of SSP since 1966, as the partymen had joined the state-wide all-party pro-dam rally in 1972 even before the project took off.

In a letter written to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) Chairman P K Laheri, Mr Shaikh has expressed his support describing it ''necessary for permanent solution of perennial water shortage in Gujarat.'' Meanwhile, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has also made known its decision to participate in the pro-dam sit-in at Sabarmati Ashram here tomorrow.

The Narmada Control Committee (NPA), appointed by Supreme Court, has recently allowed SSNL to raise the dam's height from 110 metres to 121 metres, which has been contested by NBA, arguing that Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in the catchment area has not been completed.

The dam is being constructed by SSNL, a wholly-owned company of Gujarat Government. When completed, the 138-metre dam is projected to generate 1,450 MW of power for Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It will also irrigate large tracts of land and provide drinking water to almost half of Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan.

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