Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi reminded the Prime Minister to release Central aid under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river as per the norms of Desert Development Programme (DDP).
In a letter Modi said that in similar project in Punjab and Karnataka, the Union Government had already given aid but somehow Gujarat had not been considered. Drawing attention on his earlier three letters during the year 2011 for the same issue, he said that even the Water Resource Minister had recommended that areas under DDP are more parched than the regions under Draught-Prone Area Programme (DPAP).
“Earlier, the vice-chairman of the Planning Commission and the Union Ministry of Water Resources have also supported the proposal to give financial aid under DDP areas at par with regions under DPAP. Even a Task Force appointed by the Union Government in 2008 has recommended removing this anomaly,” said Modi.
The Gujarat Chief Minister said that the main purpose of Sardar Sarovar Dam is to provide water security to areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan under DDP and DPAP and the Prime Minister is well informed about it. “As far as Gujarat is concerned, more than 75 per cent areas covered by Sardar Sarovar Dam falls under both the programs. Canal network of Sardar Sarovar Dam covers 8.73 ha DDP areas which is completely depending upon Narmada waters,” he said, adding that if these areas would get grant of 90 per cent as per AIBP norms, it would help to speed up remaining work of canal network and as a result of it agriculture production would also be increased.