Modi accuses Centre of 'playing politics' with SSP

Kevadia Colony, Gujarat, Jan 19 (UNI) Launching a tirade against the Centre for ''playing politics'' with the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the nation has suffered a lot due to the ten to 15 years' delay in its implementation.

''The dam's construction work in the past five years has been doubly faster than what was achieved in 15 years. Its height was increased to 121.92-metre level, approved by the Narmada Control Authority. This has been possible mainly because of our mobilisation efforts,'' he said while addressing a public gathering here.

Mr Modi and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan were here to dedicate the 1450 MW Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) hydro electric power project to the nation at a function organised at the helipad ground here.

He said if the Centre did not interfere, then the 30 radial gates can be installed to take the dam's height to the full reservoir level of 138.62 metres from the present level of 121.92 metres.

''Our dream is to complete the project in all respects by 2010, when the Gujarat government will celebrate its golden jubilee,'' Mr Modi said.

In an apparent reply to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi's charge that Gujarat had been slow in implementing Central schemes for tribal welfare, Mr Modi said his government was ready to make up for it, if the Centre gave an interest waiver on the loan Gujarat took for the SSP.

''We are ready to pay the Central loan taken for the SSP, but we want Centre to do us a favour -- it should waive the interest on the loan, as it is a national project. We will invest the interest amount on the welfare of tribals, I promise,'' he said.

Mr Modi was full of praise for the Madhya Pradesh government for successfully carrying out the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of those displaced in the state.

He said it was because of that, the height of the inter-state multipurpose project could be raised to the level of 121.92 metres and power generation could be commenced from the two hydropower plants set up at the dam site.

''We want to take Narmada water to Rajasthan through the main canal as soon as possible so that vast stretch of drought-prone areas could come under irrigation,'' he added.

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