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dam-l LS: I'm not opposed to Narmada dam: Digvijay
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, June 14, 2000
I'm not opposed to Narmada dam:
Digvijay
The Times of India News Service
RAJKOT: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh
said here on Tuesday that he was not opposed to the
Narmada dam. The height of 436 feet was enough for
Gujarat to meet its requirements, he added.
Singh, who was on a short tour of Saurashtra to see the
checkdam projects, met reporters at the airport. He
dropped a bombshell when he maintained that the local BJP
leaders were in tune with the MP government's stand as far
as height of the dam was concerned.
The MP chief minister visited checkdam projects near
Mandlikpur and Jamkandorna. On his return to Rajkot, he
said, "I have reiterated time and again that I was not
opposed to the Narmada dam. While Gujarat was talking
of taking the dam height to 436 feet, I have been
maintaining that the height of 436 was sufficient for
Gujarat."
"By having a height of 436 feet Gujarat would not get a
drop less of water," he said, adding that even technical
personnel have confirmed this. "We had taken up this issue
with Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, former chief minister
Shankersinh Vaghela and other officials and even now we
were ready for any kind of talks," he said.
Singh said if it was question of power loss due to lowering
of height, then Madhra Pradesh was ready to give power
from its quota. "But I would not agree to land loss by
raising the height of the dam," he maintained. "If Gujarat
agrees to this demand, we would be happy," he said in
reply to a question as to what would he like from Gujarat.
When asked if an out-of-court settlement was possible on
the lines of Cauvery issue, Singh said, "If Gujarat agrees to
a height of 436 feet I have no problem." Prime Minister AB
Vajpayee had summoned a meeting on the issue. It was
unfortunately cancelled. After that he had not shown any
inclination to call such meeting of concerned chief ministers,
said Singh.
He said that the BJP had made Narmada an emotional
issue in Gujarat. In Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister
Sunderlal Patwa had agreed to our suggestions and were
with us on the Narmada issue.
When reporters brought to his notice frequent drought in
Saurashtra, the MP chief minister said, "The Narmada
water would not reach all places in Saurashtra. Even after
the Narmada project was completed, the drinking water
problem of Saurashtra would not be solved."