Amid looming water crisis and and drying up Narmada river in Gujarat, the state government has sought the Centre's intervention in persuading the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to release more water from Madhya Pradesh to save the downstream ecology of the river.
While the opposition Congress claimed that Madhya Pradesh has already refused to provide additional water to Gujarat, the state government maintained that no such decision has been taken so far.
Sardar Sarovar dam built on the Narmada river receives water from the reservoirs located in Madhya Pradesh.
M S Dagur, Additional Chief Secretary of Narmada Department, had written a letter to the Secretary of the Environment Ministry a few months back, stating that the allotted quota of 600 cusecs to maintain the river eco-system will not be enough to preserve the bio-diversity of Narmada river downstream.
In the letter, Dagur urged the ministry to direct the NCA to release at least 1,500 cusecs during the current water year.
"It is requested to direct the Environment Sub Group (of NCA) to come out with a solution by enhancing the quantity of water for the downstream and to release at least 1,500 cusecs of water during the current water year up to June 30, 2018," reads the letter.
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It added that such a decision will "certainly help in protecting the downstream environment".
In the letter, Dagur cited various media reports and representations from people about the "deteriorated environmental situation downstream" as the river is receiving less water from the dam following the closure of the gates, which prevented the overflow.
It further said that the river has not received any additional water, other than the allotted 600 cusecs due to very less rainfall in the catchment area.
"The situation has thus reached to a level wherein immediate intervention is needed to safeguard the downstream environment (having a length of 157 km downstream)," the letter reads.
Citing the letter, Congress MLA C J Chavda alleged that though Gujarat is in need of water, the BJP-ruled MP has refused to give any additional water.
"As the elections are approaching, Madhya Pradesh has refused to give water to us. I urge the Gujarat government to ensure that we at least get what we have been allotted," Chavda said.
However, refuting the charge, Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh said that the issue will be discussed in the next meeting of NCA.
"There is no truth in the reports that Madhya Pradesh has refused to give more water to us. It is up to the NCA to take a final call and we will discuss this matter in the next meeting. Just like us, even MP is suffering from water shortage. They also don't have (enough) water," Singh said.