It was 15th of January. After we got tired of kites, we decided to take a round trip to Narmada Canal.
Fenil joined the two of us. He was our last member. Though sometimes we wish there were more people, three seems perfect. Maybe four will just be a crowd.The canel is some 16 KMs from Ahmedabad. It wouldve taken us 25 minutes in the normal highway but we decided to go on the other one (Through Motera Stadium) and it took us 40 minutes but no complaints!! the road was empty, temperature around 18 and there were trees either side of the road.
Now, something about the Canal. Sardar Sarovar
Project (SSP) is a multipurpose river valley project currently under construction across the river Narmada to irrigate 17.92 lakh hectare annually in the State of Gujarat. The main dam and hydropower works are under progress. The construction work of various canals of SSP, Gujarat State is in full swing. The Narmada Main Canal (NMC) of the SSP is the largest irrigation lined canal in the world. The total length of NMC is 458 km. having a capacity of 1133 cumecs (40,000 cusecs) at head and 71 cumecs (2500 cusecs) at tail.The Canal is beautiful but unfortunately its a favourite among those who want to experiment with suicide.. All those who failed in their exams or in their relationship chose this canal for their final bath. So its sealed both sides.
The watchman at first didnt allow us near it but after seeing me clicking at everything, he understood we were just a bunch of city guys who havent seen clean water. But he did tell us he normally doesnt allow people to park near the bridge. To make him happy, we took his photo.The Sardar Sarovar Project will provide irrigation facilities to 17.93 lac ha. of land, covering 3112 villages of 73 talukas in 15 districts of Gujarat. It will also irrigate 75,000 ha. of land in the strategic desert districts of Barmer and Jallore in Rajasthan and 37,500 ha. in the tribal hilly tract of Maharashtra through lift. About 75% of the command area in Gujarat is drought prone while entire command (75,000 ha.) in Rajasthan is drought prone. Assured water supply will soon make this area drought proof
There will be two power houses viz. River bed power house and canal head power house with an
installed capacity of 1200 MW and 250 MW respectively. The power would be shared by three states - Madhya Pradesh - 57%, Maharashtra - 27% and Gujarat 16%. This will provide a useful paking power to western grid of the country which has very limited hydel power production at present.A series of micro hydel power stations are also planned on the branch canals where convenient falls are available.
On our way back we stopped in a farmhouse called NARAYANI.. we had no idea what was inside. unfortunately it was a bit too dark and couldnt take any photos.. it was a great experience.. we felt as if we were in Rajasthan, the color, the sounds and everything.. there was a puppet show going on (my first experience).
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