The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Thursday accused both the state and central governments of neglecting the Sardar Sarovar Narmada project. The party urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step in immediately and announce a fresh award under the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT).
Speaking at a press conference in Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, GPCC president Amit Chavda pointed out that the 45-year binding period of the Tribunal&rsquo;s final award, which was issued on December 12, 1979, has already ended.
&ldquo;Although 45 years have passed since the order of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, the Gujarat government seems to be in a deep slumber like Kumbhakarna. As a Gujarati, the Prime Minister must intervene to safeguard our share,&rdquo; Chavda said.
He reminded that Gujarat was allocated 9 million acre-feet (MAF) of Narmada waters, out of which 8 MAF was meant for irrigation. Yet, many branch canals remain incomplete and even the existing ones face breaches. &ldquo;The original purpose of bringing water to the last farmer is still unfulfilled. Water is wasted or diverted, leaving Kutch and Banaskantha vulnerable in the future,&rdquo; he said.
The Congress leader demanded that Modi, in his role as final arbiter under the inter-state framework, direct the Narmada Control Authority and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to extend the award for another 45 years. &ldquo;Without immediate action, Gujarat risks more litigation, obstruction and delay,&rdquo; he warned.
<h3 data-start="1614" data-end="1644">Demand for dues recovery</h3>
Chavda further demanded urgent recovery of Rs 7,500 crore from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan under the project. &ldquo;When Congress was in power at the Centre, BJP accused it of inaction. Today BJP rules in Gujarat, at the Centre, and in all three partner states. Why is Gujarat&rsquo;s money still not recovered?&rdquo; he asked.
As per official records submitted in the Gujarat Assembly, dues stood at Rs 7,576 crore in 2024 &mdash; including Rs 4,953 crore from Madhya Pradesh, Rs 1,716 crore from Maharashtra and Rs 556 crore from Rajasthan.
<h3 data-start="2186" data-end="2227">&ldquo;Congress built 93% of the project&rdquo;</h3>
Former Narmada Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, who once headed the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, reminded that most of the project was advanced under Congress governments.
&ldquo;This was Gujarat&rsquo;s lifeline. But after the Supreme Court&rsquo;s 2000 ruling permitted raising the dam height, the BJP hijacked credit, celebrating it as its own achievement. Since then, the project has been mishandled, water has been wasted, and tail-end regions remain dry,&rdquo; Vyas said, while adding that Congress had pushed the project from its foundation stage to 93% completion.
<h3 data-start="2778" data-end="2802">Historical context</h3>
The NWDT was set up in 1969 to resolve disputes among Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In 1979, it allocated Gujarat 9 MAF out of the total 28 MAF utilisable Narmada waters, along with provisions for rehabilitation and environmental safeguards. The award was binding for 45 years.
After years of protests and litigation, the Supreme Court in October 2000 allowed the project to go ahead with conditions. The Sardar Sarovar Dam was eventually completed and dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Modi on September 17, 2017.
<h3 data-start="3354" data-end="3379">Opposition&rsquo;s appeal</h3>
Chavda asserted that the Congress will continue to take up the issue both in the Assembly and among people. &ldquo;Even if the state government sleeps, we, as a responsible opposition, will fight for Gujarat&rsquo;s rights. This project was envisioned by Sardar Patel, nurtured by successive governments, and fought for by generations. We must not let its purpose be lost,&rdquo; he added.

Narmada Award Lapses, Congress Urges PM’s Action

GPCC urges Modi to extend Narmada award and recover pending Rs 7,500 cr from states

Narmada Award Lapses, Congress Urges PM’s Action

GPCC urges Modi to extend Narmada award and recover pending Rs 7,500 cr from states

August 21, 2025 | 19:42 IST