Launched in 1979, the Narmada Dam Project was envisioned as a multipurpose infrastructure effort, with goals spanning flood control, hydropower, and agricultural rejuvenation. Planning agency MMCPL was tasked with crafting the micro-level design for distributaries and sub-distributaries covering regions such as Vadodara and Ahmedabad. The result was an extensive and intricately planned canal system, completed ahead of schedule.
Despite these efforts, the project has faced implementation challenges. The canal network was supposed to irrigate 17.92 lakh hectares, but years of delay in land acquisition, outdated planning tools, and missing links in infrastructure hampered delivery. Only 6.56% of the cultivable command area has been utilized for irrigation, largely due to delayed construction of sub-minors and low pipeline connectivity.
In response, Gujarat introduced the Underground Pipeline (UGPL) Scheme between 2012 and 2014. This initiative replaced open gravity channels with underground uPVC pipelines to reduce land loss, enhance efficiency, and prevent theft or evaporation. Under this system, the government bore 97.5% of the costs, while farmers contributed just 2.5%. With over 6,400 kilometers of pipelines laid by 2019, the project succeeded in covering nearly 2.5 lakh hectares, demonstrating a rare case of participatory irrigation success in India.
Historical Context and Legal Hurdles
The journey of the Narmada project began as early as 1946, culminating in the establishment of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal in 1969. Its 1979 award shaped the blueprint for this monumental venture. Yet, the project has not been free of legal and financial complications. As of 2008, costs ballooned to over ₹26,000 crore, far exceeding initial estimates.
A major bottleneck has been land acquisition. Of the required 65,500 hectares, only 55% had been acquired by 2007, creating obstacles for the construction of sub-minors and distributaries. The issue came into sharp focus in villages like Karan Nagar, where families like Prahaladbhai Ishwarbhai Patel’s lost their only means of livelihood with little or delayed compensation. Such stories reveal the human cost behind large infrastructure.
To speed up settlements, Gujarat initiated Lok Adalats (people’s courts), which helped resolve thousands of compensation cases. By 2008, the number of resolved disputes had quadrupled. Encouraged by this, the government is now planning a permanent and independent Lok Adalat model to bring consistency, fairness, and transparency into the dispute resolution process.
Systemic Weaknesses and the Path Forward
Despite its many achievements, SSNNL the body overseeing the canal system has been criticized for lacking a comprehensive irrigation policy. Issues such as crop planning, canal maintenance, and equitable water charges remain unresolved. Financially, the agency borrowed at high interest rates, resulting in unnecessary expenditures and diversion of irrigation funds worth ₹1,833 crore to unrelated project areas.
The agency’s focus on Phase I areas, already blessed with ample rainfall, over drier regions like Saurashtra and Kutch, further widened regional disparities. While canals were built in rain-fed areas, truly water-scarce zones were left under-served. Moreover, contracts were often awarded before acquiring land, leading to incomplete or defunct segments crippling timely irrigation delivery.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR), dating back to 1980, was never revised to accommodate changing hydrological realities, economic conditions, or land pressures. These oversights have made it difficult for the project to reach its full potential.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Vision, Hurdles, and Hope
The Narmada Main Canal and its larger ecosystem comprising solar innovation, water-sharing between states, legal reform, and participatory irrigation represent both the heights of India’s infrastructure ambition and the depths of bureaucratic inertia. While the canal has undeniably transformed millions of lives and vast landscapes, its success remains incomplete without comprehensive reforms, updated planning, and transparent governance.
Moving forward, the emphasis must be on integrated water resource management that prioritizes both ecological sustainability and human dignity. With proper execution, the Narmada Canal network has the potential not just to irrigate fields, but to sow the seeds of equitable, sustainable, and resilient rural futures across India.