The fractional increase in height from 110.64 mts to 121.9 mts is less than 10% and the resulting power due to the increased height will only be a small fraction of that being generated. We averaged 150 MW at 110.64 mts and we would have averaged 170 MW had the dam been 121.9 mts in the same period. The difference is insignificant compared to the 1000 MW that ought to have been generated but weren't. Moreover, while power grows linearly with height, displacement grows exponentially and that is the reason why Supreme Court in its wisdom ordered halt on dam construction until achievement of rehabilitation. As the honorable Judges Y.K.Sabharwal, K.G.Balakrishnan and S.B. Sinha observed: "We are not oblivious of the fact that the river valley of Narmada is shaped like an inverted cone and the area of submergence increases exponentially for the each metre of height raised. We are also not unmindful of the fact that before this Court it was contended by the original writ petitioners that the whole land up to 138 metres should be acquired, people immediately be resettled and all requisite studies be done up to that level before permitting the dam height to be raised."

The Narmada Tribunal Award that determined the dam height in 1979 also gave a time line of 10 years for the completion of the SSP dam -- However by 1989 the dam work had barely begun, and NBA was still in its infancy, no older than a child of two. Why was the Tribunal Award timeline not followed? Due to lack of money, and absence of environmental clearance and rehabilitation plan. Lets put blame where it belongs, and not on the displaced people who are fighting for their rehabilitation rights from a system that has gone morally and financially bankrupt and is openly violating the judgement of our highest court.

The Sardar Sarovar project is running a bill in excess of 40,000 crores of which pouring concrete and stopping the Narmada river from flowing is a minor fraction of less than 25%. The bulk of the expense is in the canal network and it is when canals are completed that will determine the water usage in the command area and whether it was worth the investment. In fact once the Narmada river is totally dammed and water diverted to the canals net electricity produced in the riverbed powerhouse will be zero as no water will flow downstream of SSP. The 1250 MW generators in the river bed will come to a grinding halt. This is how the dam was designed! Power is but a temporary benefit of the Sardar Sarovar dam and there is no reason why it should be erroneously glorified as Ayesha Khan has done in the article: "In depths of the Narmada cavern, a power plant waits for raising of the dam height"

-- Ravi Kuchimanchi

(submitted to Indian Express)