GUJ SEEKS CENTRE’S HELP ON NARMADA

Ahmedabad: Amid looming water crisis and and drying up Narmada river in Gujarat, the state government has sought the Centre's intervention in persuading the Narmada Control Authority ( NCA) to release more water from Madhya Pradesh to save the downstream ecology of the river. While the opposition Congress claimed that Madhya Pradesh has already refused to provide additional water to Gujarat, the state government maintained that no such decision has been taken so far. Sardar Sarovar dam built on the Narmada river receives water from the reservoirs located in Madhya Pradesh. M S Dagur, Additional Chief Secretary of Narmada Department, had written a letter to the secretary of the environment ministry a few months back, stating that the allotted quota of 600 cusecs to maintain the river eco- system will not be enough to preserve the bio- diversity of Narmada river downstream. In the letter, Dagur urged the ministry to direct the NCA to release at least 1,500 cusecs during the current water year. "It is requested to direct the Environment Sub Group ( of NCA) to come out with a solution by enhancing the quantity of water for the downstream and to release at least 1,500 cusecs of water during the current water year up to June 30, 2018," reads the letter. It added that such a decision will "certainly help in protecting the downstream environment". It further said that the river has not received any additional water. Citing the letter, Congress MLA C. J. Chavda has alleged that the BJP- ruled MP has refused to give any additional water.