Congress slams Gujarat govt over Narmada canal issue

Coming down heavily on the BJP government in Gujarat over the Narmada canal issue, Opposition Congress today alleged that a large part of the state was still without irrigation due its "mismanagement".
Senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil, during his speech on the budget allocation in the Assembly, said although BJP is ruling the state since the past 22 years, the Narmada water has so far reached only 2.09 lakh hectares area.
"As per the figures provided by the government in its budget, Narmada project has the capacity to irrigate 17.92 lakh hectares of farmland in the state. However, despite the BJP government being in power for 22 years, we have been able to irrigate just 2.09 lakh hectares so far," the MLA from Abdasa in Kutch said.

Accusing the ruling BJP of misleading people over permission to install gates on Narmada dam, he claimed installation of gates has to do nothing with providing water through canal network.
"BJP used to claim that the UPA government did injustice by not giving permission to install gates on the Narmada dam. But, let me tell you that water flows into the dam from five small dams upstream. Then, it goes into the main canal at a height of 110 meters," Gohil said.
"Hence, when enough water was available at just 110 meters all these years, government could have utilised this water without bothering about the issue of gates on the dam," he added.

The Congress leader also claimed that permission granted by Narmada Control Authority to raise the height and install gates on dam was conditional.

"This government, which always boasts that the PM (Modi) gave permission to install gates immediately after taking over the charge, should also tell people that the permission is conditional. People do not know that government is not authorised to close the gates," he claimed.
During his interaction with media after the session, state Transport Minister Vijay Rupani claimed that permission to close the gates would also be granted to the state government in due course.
"Congress always played politics on the issue, as they were never in favour of raising the height of the dam. In the past, when we sought increase in height from 110 meters to 121 meters, Congress protested. Then, they also blocked the clearance to install gates," Rupani, who was recently elected as the state BJP chief, said.

"It is true that the permission given at present is only for installing the gates. In due course, we will seek Centre's approval to close the gates and we are confident of getting it," the minister said.