Maheshwar Dam: Narmada River

• 01 Oct 2022

Why in News?

The Madhya Pradesh government has canceled all contracts with Maheshwar Hydroelectric Project almost three decades after it agreed to purchase power from it.

• It has been canceled due to its poor financial track record, several irregularities and graft allegations and caused the submergence of 61 villages.
• The Maheshwar dam is one of the large dams of the Narmada Valley Development Project, which envisages the construction of 30 large and 135 smaller dams in the Narmada valley.

What are the Key Points of Narmada River?

• About:
  • Narmada is the largest west flowing river of the peninsular region flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south.
    • Narmada is flowing through the area where the land is not sloping towards the west from central India, but it is flowing west because of the rift valleys only.
  • It rises from Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
  • It drains a large area in Madhya Pradesh besides some areas in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • The river near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) forms the DhuanDhar Falls.
  • There are several islands in the estuary of Narmada of which Aliabet is the largest.
• Major Tributaries: Hiran, Orsang, the Barna and the Kolar.
• Hydro Power Projects: Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarova, Maheshwar etc.
• Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA):
  • It is an Indian social movement spearheaded by native tribes (adivasis), farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against a number of large dam projects across the Narmada River.
  • Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat is one of the biggest dams on the river and was one of the first focal points of the movement.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. The Narmada River flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? (2013)

1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
3. The land slopes to the west from Central India.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None

Ans: (a)

Source: DTE