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dam-l LS: THE HINDU: NBA scuttling work on SSP
THE HINDU ONLINE
http://hinduonline.com/hindu/daily/981105/04/04052061.htm
NBA scuttling work on SSP: Minister
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Date: 05-11-1998 :: Pg: 11 :: Col: a
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By Our Special Correspondent
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AHMEDABAD, Nov. 4.
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The Gujarat Minister for Narmada Affairs and Major Dams, Mr
Jaynarayan Vyas, today condemned the efforts of the Narmada
Bachao Andolan to scuttle the supply of turbo-generators by a
Japanese company for the river-bed power station of the Sardar
Sarovar dam project on the Narmada river.
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Talking to media persons here today, Mr Vyas and the Sardar
Sarovar Narmada Development Corporation chairman, Mr
Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, circulated the copy of a letter purported
to have been written by an NBA activist, Mr Shripad
Dharmadhikari, to the environmentalists world over to bring
pressure on the Japanese Government to cancel the recent
agreement signed between the SSNNL and the Japanese manufacturer
of the turbo-generators, M/S Sumitomo Corporation.
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The agreement signed last month paved the way for resolving a 12-
year old deadlock for the supply of six turbo- generators with
200 MW capacity each for the river-bed power project as part of
the multi-purpose SSP. The original deal signed in 1986 for the
supply of six generators was virtually terminated in 1990 as the
Overseas Economic Corporation Fund (OCEF) of Japan cancelled the
loan of Rs 850 crores under pressure from the environmentalists.
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The Sumitomo Corporation, which had already manufactured two
turbo-generators with specific designs suitable only for the SSP,
was demanding storage charges and interests from the State
Government. However, after protracted negotiations, the company
had agreed to provide the loan through the Sumitomo Bank and also
waived demmurage charges and interests amounting to over Rs 150
crores.
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Mr Vyas said the first turbo-generator for the project was now
expected to arrive in India by March, next year, and all the six
units would be supplied in the next three years. Erection,
installation and commissioning of the hydel power project was
also expected to be completed in about three years.
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Mr Vyas and Mr Chudasma wondered why the NBA was raising
objections against the supply of turbo-generators since the hydel
power project was most eco-friendly and in keeping with the
Andolan's goal of environmental protection. Mr Vyas also
criticised the NBA for raising fresh issues when it had already
approached the Supreme Court for a comprehensive judgment on the
entire project.