SSNNL meets don’t discuss use of water: RTI reply

Indian Express

Anupam Chakravartty

Posted: Saturday , Apr 17, 2010 at 0132 hrs

Vadodara:

Since its inception in 1988, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) has never discussed in its meetings the optimum use of water stored in the reservoir of the dam, revealed a letter sent in reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The application was filed by Vadodara-based activist Rohit Prajapati.

On the other hand, SSNNL Public Information Officer (PIO) N M Patel said the question asked in the RTI application was based on a presumption that “such things were discussed in the meetings”.

The recent report of the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) had reportedly stated that only 26 per cent of the work has been completed on the planned water distribution system.

Prajapati had sought information about the completion of the canals till date and precise use of the water through canal network.

In one of the questions, Prajapati had enquired if the SSNNL authorities had kept an account of water in the reservoir which could not be put to optimum use due to slow progress of the construction of canals. He also wanted to know if the board discussed in any of its meetings, or any decisions, with regards to putting the water stored in the reservoir to its optimum use since 1988, the year of its creation.

While the reply given to Prajapati from SSNNL stated that all information regarding the use of water stored in the reservoir was in the Water Account maintained by the Narmada Control Authority, the PIO stated that no such decision or discussion had taken place.

“We cannot give the information based on applicant’s presumption. We do not have such kind of meetings to discuss usage of water. We have Water Account where everything is recorded under the Narmada Control Authority,” said Patel.

However, when contacted by The Indian Express, Prajapati, a qualified engineer, said that if SSNNL did not discuss the issue of optimum use of water in the reservoir, then on what basis the canal network was designed.

“The information given to me by the SSNNL is not satisfactory. Even a first-year engineering student would see the utility of project in achieving its goals before he plans it. This means the canals are not planned by SSNNL as there are no discussions about the use of the water stored in the reservoir,” said Prajapati.