Dream of the Narmada Dam by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1946 – A False Declaration  

Dream of  the Narmada Dam by  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1946 – A False Political Declaration

 

We have tried  to research and compile the history of Sarsar Sarovar Dam (New Name) with reference to dreams of  India’s Iron Man  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Vikas Puroosh Narendra Modi. Honorable PM Narendra Modi unveiled the Shilaalekh at SSD and dedicated to Nation on 17.09.2017 on the occasion of his birth day.

In his speech on 17.09.2017, Paying tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and B R Ambedkar, PM Modi said, had the two stalwarts lived longer, the dam would have been completed in the 60s and 70s itself.

We have studied  the history of SSD and content on the official website of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd but no where, I could verify the claim that Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel saw the first dream of SSD in 1946 (Before 71 years) whereas history as per official website (as published at http://www.sardarsarovardam.org/history.aspx) is  as under –   

” The plan for harnessing the river for irrigation and power generation in the Narmada basin was initiated in 1946. Seven projects including the Bharuch project were identified during the initial Survey and 4 projects Bharuch (Gujarat), Bargi, Tawa and Punasa in Madhya Pradesh were given top priority for investigation. After the completion of investigation, the proposed dam at Gora in Gujarat with the full reservoir level (FRL) 161 ft (49.08m) was selected and the foundation stone was laid by late Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 5th April, 1961. However as more detailed, modernised contour sheets from the Survey of India were available thereafter, possibility of raising the height of the dam for optimum utilisation of water was considered.

In 1964, to resolve the dispute about sharing of the Narmada Waters between the Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the Government of India appointed an expert committee under the Chairmanship of late Dr. Khosla which recommended a higher dam with FRL 500 ft (152.44m) in 1965. However, Govt. of M.P. was not agreeable to development of Narmada water as per Khosla Committee report and hence the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) was constituted by the Government of India in October 1969, under the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. NWDT gave its final award in December 1979.”

Mix history of SSD and Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel can be seen and studied from hollowing chart –

Date / Year	Action / Activities
09.08.1942	Patel was imprisoned with the entire Congress Working Committee
15.06.1945	Patel was released from Jail.
1945	When Sardar Patel was released, he realised that the British were preparing proposals to transfer power to Indian hands.
1946	Election for the Congress presidency, Sardar Patel stepped down in favour of Nehru at the request of Gandhi. The plan for harnessing the river for irrigation and power generation in the Narmada basin was initiated .
December 1946 and January 1947	Sardar Patel worked with civil servant V.P.Menon on the latter’s suggestion for a separate dominion of Pakistan
03.06.1947	formally proposed the plan for partition / independence.
15.08.1947	India / declared became Independent
15.12.1950	Sardar Patel Passed Away (Expired)
05.04.1961	Foundation stone of Navagam Dam (Now, SSD)was laid by late Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on.
December 1979	State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. NWDT gave its final award

In the above history where is the dream of Sardar Patel in 1946 (Before 71 years). Where was the time to think about development during the British Rule when the exercises for  independence (Aajaadee) has started. More ever, in the initial proposal in 1946, 4 locations namely Bharuch in Gujarat, Bargi, Tawa and Punasa in Madhya Pradesh were under consideration).

In fact, it was also a political trick of PM Modi to link the SSD (Development) to Sardar Patel (Rashtrawaad / Nationalism) and to blame other Congressmen. And it is an attempt to write / create a new History. Also it was an attempt to please Labours & Engineers by remembering Vishwakarma, backward classes by by remembering Babasaheb Ambedkar, Patel caste fellow by remembering Sardar Patel and Development praisers by saying Iron Man Sardar Patel as Vikas Puroosh.

One more surprising fact is also to be looked in to. How PM Modi came to know about this dream or when PM Modi dreamed that Sardar Patel dreamed before 71 years in 1946. Please see the live video of PM Modi at 

https://youtu.be/Na-82wPvMMo