Omkareshwar dam project work to start soon

The dam would irrigate an area of 1.47 mn ha, benefiting 529 villages.

After a long wait due to legal battle, the Omkareshwar dam has started power generation this week. The 520-Mw power project, slated for completion by March this year, is now expected to be completed by November 14.

The project is being executed by the Jaypee-Voith Siemens consortium on the Narmada river at famous temple-town Omkareshwar in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh.

Though a recent Supreme court order has allowed the Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC) "" a joint venture between the Madhya Pradesh government and National Hydro Power Corporation"" to retain 189 meters, the project is still facing challenges from claimants.

Two turbines have been commissioned and they have started production. The project has generated 36.49 million units of power since July 23.

We started commercial production from August 21," a senior official at the project site told BS. He also said a third unit would be commissioned by end of this month and load testing will be performed by September 4.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the NHDC at Khandwa have claimed that all 4,592 families of 27 villages that will fall under submergence when the dam attains 196 meters height at full reservoir limit, have been awarded the compensations. Of them, 3,140 have been resettled.

However, 1,452 families are demanding more.

"They want prime agriculture land against submergence land. The state government does not have prime agriculture land. How can we (government) acquire prime agriculture land?" asks Sajay Gohil, district magistrate (in-charge). He also said false claims by relatives of affected people have been reported.

"Compensation of 271 families is in process and will be completed by end of this month," an NHDC official at Khandwa said.

Of the total Rs 2,224.73 crore (the project cost), Rs 2,145.30 crore have been invested in the project. An amount of Rs 1.98 crore has also been disbursed as compensation, said the NHDC official.

The project will also irrigate a land area of 1, 47 million hectare. It will benefit 529 village and the state will be able to add another 7.25 million tonnes and 8.35 million tonnes of other crops. Similarly, 360 tonnes of fish production is also expected from the project.