The Central Water Commission Government of India has accorded ‘In- Principle’ consent for four major proposed irrigation projects in Narmada Valley. This is a major achievement towards completing irrigation projects in Narmada valley within prescribed time limit which is year 2024. It is to be noted here that consented four projects are amongst 29 major projects inducted in the master plan of Narmada Valley Development.
CWC has given the consent to Chinki Multipurpose project across Narmada River near village Piparia in Narsinghpur district. On completion Chinki would provide annual irrigation to 86,215 ha. (CCA 73,979 ha.) and power generation with an installed capacity of 15 MW. The command area would fall under Narsinghpur and Raisen districts. Its preliminary estimated cost would be Rs. 578 crore. The other three Sher, Machhrewa, Shakkar (SMS) projects would be a complex of projects which will create irrigation potential in an area of 64,800 ha. The Sher project is proposed across River Sher – a tributary of Narmada in District Narsinghpur. The Machhrewa project is proposed across River Machhrewa, another tributary of Narmada in Narsinghpur district. The Shakkar project is proposed across River Shakkar in Chhindwara district. On completion these projects would create collective irrigation potential in an area of 1.39 lakh ha.
The Vice Chairman, NVDA Shri O.P. Rawat informed that preliminary technical reports of these projects were examined and discussed at the screening committee of CWC and ‘In-principle’ consent has been communicated to NVDA for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The officers have been directed to prepare DPRs in earliest possible time. The NVDA has introduced multipronged strategy to aim at utilizing allocated Narmada Water upto year 2020, Shri Rawat added.