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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today welcomed the decision of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the height of the dam for the Sardar Sarovar project by 17 metres.
"My government has already completed its R&R in 2008 corresponding to full dam height of 138 meters," he said in a tweet. Chouhan said the present permission is to install gates in open position and as such does not result in any increase in present level of submergence. He said the permission to impound water at higher levels by NCA is after construction and after satisfying that submergence area is completely vacated.
Earlier in the day, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh expressed surprise at the decision of the NCA to increase the height of the dam. In a statement, Singh said he would like to know if this decision had been taken in concurrence with Chouhan's will. He said the Union Environment Ministry which monitors such projects should also state if people who would be affected due to increase in dam height have been rehabilitated or not.
