Minutes of 86

th

Draft
Emergency Meeting of Narmada Control Authority held at
New Delhi on 12th June 2014

86th emergency meeting of Narmada Control Authority (NCA) was held

under the chairmanship of Chairman, Narmada Control Authority and Secretary
to the Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources at New Delhi on 12 th
June 2014 to discuss the agenda item "To review the status of Phase-I
construction of piers, overhead bridge and installation of gates at Sardar Sarovar
Dam". The Agenda Note is placed at Annex 86 Min(1).
At the outset, the Chairman welcomed the members and special invitees
of NCA (List of participants at Annex Min 86(2)). The Chairman then requested
Executive Member to take up the agenda.
The Executive Member, NCA stated that the NCA in its 80 th meeting
had decided that further construction of Sardar Sarovar dam would be carried out
in two phases.

The Phase-I construction would be first considered by the

Environment Sub-group (ESG) and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Sub-group

(R&R) in consultation with Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA) of Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra and. He also indicated that the Environment
subgroup has already cleared the construction of Phase-I proposal with certain
conditions. The GRA of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have also cleared the
Phase-I proposal. However, GRA Maharashtra had certain observations.
Government of Maharashtra has reported compliance of the observations of GRA
Maharashtra which were further verified by the committee constituted by the R&R
sub-group.
Thereafter, a brief presentation was made by Member (E&R), NCA on
status of construction and clearance by ESG. He brought out that in compliance
with the observations of ESG, CWC had studied the backwater effect and found
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that the afflux due to phase I proposal at Sardar Sarovar Dam would be
El.134.15 m instead of earlier estimated afflux of El.134.32 m which had already
been cleared by NCA in its 76th Meeting for raising the dam height up to
El.121.92m.
Chairman, R&R Sub-group of NCA and Secretary to the Government of
India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment stated that the Phase-I proposal
related to Sardar Sarovar Dam was discussed in the 77 th Meeting of R&R SubGroup of NCA held on 27.6.2013 wherein the following decisions, inter alia, were
taken.
i).

With regard to payment of second installment to the Project

Affected Families (PAFs) in Madhya Pradesh under the Special
Rehabilitation Package (SRP), the Sub-Group expressed concern
that Government of Madhya Pradesh (GOMP) should make a
representation before Justice Jha Commission urging it to expedite
the process of scrutiny of cases related to payment of second
installment under SRP within the four corners of law so that the
matter can be resolved at the earliest.

ii)

The Sub-Group reiterated the need for constant monitoring of

resettlement works. The Sub-Group also advised the State
Governments to prepare a Contingency Plan for the PAFs to whom
R&R package already delivered/extended for which they were
entitled but still residing in the submergence villages by their choice
to safeguard these PAFs against any untoward incidence during
flood seasons.

iii)

Since there is not going to be additional submergence because of

the implementation of the Phase-I proposal, the Sub-Group
considers that the clearance to present Phase-I Proposal can be
recommended to the NCA. Accordingly, the sub-Group with above
conditions conveys its clearance to the NCA for implementation of
the Phase-I Proposal.

A copy of the letter enclosing decision of the R&R Sub-Group received

vide letter no. F.1(2)/2013-NCA dated 12 th June 2014 is placed at Annex 86-Min
(3).
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Director (IA&R), NCA submitted that the State Government namely

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat should prepare a contingency Plan
as done in the past to safeguard those PAFs who are still residing in the
submergence zone.
The Chairman, CWC stated that CWC based on its studies on backwater
has already given unequivocal assurances that there would not be any additional
submergence due to Phase-I construction. He also assured that all needed
technical assistance would be provided to the project authorities by CWC.
The Vice Chairman, Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA),
Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) stated that the State Government is
making all efforts to see that payment of second installment of special
rehabilitation package (SRP) are made to the Affected Families. Secondly, GoMP
has earlier prepared a contingency plan for those affected families residing in the
submergence area of Indira Sagar Project and similar plan is in place for Sardar
Sarovar Dam also. He further stated that the period of 36 months available for
construction of Phase-I proposal would also be utilized for R&R of balance PAFs
in Phase-II proposal. He indicated that GoMP recommends permission for
Phase-I proposal.
Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat stated that construction of the
project has been delayed which is affecting its potential creation. The R&R issues
have already been examined by R&R sub-group and the committee constituted
by the R&R sub-group has also verified the same. He indicated that the
Government of Gujarat would cooperate in addressing any problem related to
human issues and the permission for Phase-I proposal should be accorded by
NCA.

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Government of Maharashtra representative stated that there were some

issues which were complied by Government of Maharashtra way back in August .
2012 and its action taken report was also neutrally examined and some minor
issues were observed which have also been complied. He assured that R&R for
Phase I is complete and recommended for permission by NCA.
The representative of Government of Rajasthan stated that they
welcomed installation of gates and other related civil construction on Sardar
Sarovar dam as indicated in Phase-I proposal.
The Chairman NCA concluded that the two sub-groups have cleared the
Phase-I proposal and all the four States have recommended the same and if
some R&R issues are there, the same can be taken care of in 36 months when
gates are open during Phase I construction.
In view of above unanimous recommendations and clearances by ESG
and R&R Sub-group, the Authority accorded its permission for Phase-I proposal.
It was also decided that in line with the past practice, Narmada Control Authority
may communicate the following decision to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam
Limited (SSNNL).
The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited is permitted to carry out
Phase-I proposal comprising construction of piers, overhead bridge and
installation of gates in open or raised position at SSP as per the
approved design. The project authorities should comply with the
conditions as laid down by the two subgroups of NCA. Particular care
may be taken in preparing plan to provide timely safeguard in case of
untoward/unforeseen incident.
A copy of the letter to SSNNL is placed at Annex 86- Min(4).
The meeting ended with thanks to the Chair.

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