M. P. to improve water accounting system in Narmada Basin

S.S.R. regulation committee meeting held at Bhopal

Bhopal:Monday, September 7, 2009:Updated 19:10IST Sardar Sarovar Reservoir Regulation Committee, a committee under Narmada Control Authority (NCA) held its 16th meeting here today at Narmada Bhawan, Bhopal. Member representatives from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan along with NCA officials participated in the meeting. It is for the first time this important committee of NCA decided to meet at state capital.
In the meeting the Gujarat expressed its concern on raising accuracy in water accounting datas of various reservoirs on upstream to Sardar Sarovar Reservoir. The representative of Gujarat said that regulation of Sardar Sarovar Reservoir is solely depends upon accurate and timely informations about availability of water in various dams and quantum of utilization of water. He expressed need for more accuracy.
Representing Madhya Pradesh the Vice Chairman of NVDA, O.P.Rawat said that Madhya Pradesh has all set to introduce latest technique in accounting waters of reservoirs in the state. He assured that transmission of datas would be more faster and transparent in future.
The Representative of Rajasthan put details of water released at Gujarat Rajasthan border by the Gujarat. He said that the delivery of water is much less than the quantity of water allocated by reservoir regulation committee. He asked that Rajasthan would require around 500 Cusecs of water during Rabi season.
Gujarat assured to fulfil the requirement of Rajasthan provided to improve water receiving methodology from Narmada Canal at Gujarat Rajasthan border. The issue of the use of surplus water by the participating states as per NWDT Award was also discussed.
It was proposed that terms of reference of Sardar Sarovar Regulation Committee may be enlarged to look into the implementation of the use of surplus water. Madhya Pradesh did not accept the proposal on the basis of the fact that the issue is a directive of NWDT Award and it is directly under the purview of NCA hence there was no need to bring this issue under SSRRC.
The executive member NCA V.K. Jyothi, presided over the meeting. The state of Gujarat was represented by M.D. SSNNL, R.K.Tripathi, Madhya Pradesh represented by O.P. Rawat while Chief Engineer V.C.Shalke represented the Maharashtra and Chief Engineer A.N. Rai represented Rajasthan. NVDA Members G.P.Batham, M.K. Jain along with officials of NHDC and Maheshwar Hydel Power Project also attended the meeting.