Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel participated in a ritual at Ektanagar to mark the Sardar Sarovar Dam overflowing its maximum capacity
Gandhinagar: The Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam on Wednesday reached its maximum reservoir level of 138.7 metres (455 feet) for the seventh time since its dedication to the nation in 2017. The dam has touched the maximum level in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Narmada project currently supplies drinking water to 10,453 villages, 191 towns and seven municipal corporations, benefiting more than four crore people across Gujarat, according to the state govt. Speaking at the event, the CM said Gujarat has received about 7.9 million acre-feet (MAF) of water against the normal allocation of 9 MAF, considering the total inflow into the Narmada basin this year. The govt said 201 million cubic metres (7,118 million cubic feet) of Narmada water had been supplied under the Sujalam-Sufalam scheme during the current water year, helping fill 1,028 lakes across Gujarat. Under the SAUNI scheme, 288 MCM (10,189 MCFT) of water was supplied to meet the requirements of North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch. The water was used to fill 167 lakes, 1,014 check dams and 45 dams. The Sardar Sarovar project was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept 17, 2017.
An official statement said Patel performed the puja amid Vedic chants as water reached the dam’s full reservoir level. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel participated in a ritual at Ektanagar to mark the event. He stressed the need for judicious and planned use of the available water resources.
