Narmada Project issues pact: MP CM calls it achievement; 'surrender of state's interests', says Cong

Bhopal, Jul 8 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday hailed the agreement reached between four states regarding the Sardar Sarovar Project's construction cost and the Narmada Award-related payment dispute as an "achievement" for the state. He said Gujarat should bear 75 per cent of the cost instead of 50 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh will now have to pay only Rs 217 crore. The opposition Congress, however, accused him of compromising on the state's interests in favour of the "Gujarat lobby", a day after four states bordering the Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, reached an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to officials, the long-standing dispute concerning the displacement and land compensation of people in flood-prone areas of the Narmada River Project has now been resolved. Addressing the state cabinet meeting in Bhopal, Yadav said that the complex issue regarding the Sardar Sarovar Project, pending for the last 30 years, has been resolved unanimously. Yadav expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Water Power Minister C.R. Patil for this "achievement", according to a release. The chief minister said the Attorney General of India had given an opinion in February 2026 that the cost of rehabilitation should be divided among the participating states. "As per this opinion, Madhya Pradesh was in a position to pay approximately Rs 1,500 crore. In the meeting held in New Delhi, it was decided that Gujarat should bear 75 per cent of the cost instead of 50 per cent, and thus Madhya Pradesh will now have to pay only Rs 217 crore," Yadav was quoted as saying. Earlier in the day, MP Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged Yadav has compromised on Madhya Pradesh's interests in favour of the "Gujarat lobby" by agreeing to settle the payment dispute related to the construction cost of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) and the Narmada Award. "Several villages had submerged, and millions of people were displaced (for the Narmada project). The same Madhya Pradesh government, which gave its land and forests (for the project), had demanded a compensation of Rs 7,669 crore from the Gujarat government. "But instead of fighting for the state's rights, Mohan Yadav compromised with the Gujarat government and now has agreed to give Rs 550 crore to Gujarat," Patwari stated on X. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar also targeted Yadav over what he termed a "controversial agreement". "In whose interest were Madhya Pradesh's rights compromised, and why was the decision made to waive such a large amount when the state itself had claimed thousands of crores of rupees?" he asked. Singhar demanded that the Chief Minister make the terms and facts of the entire agreement public. Senior MLA Ajay Singh alleged that Yadav had ceded Madhya Pradesh's right to approximately Rs 7,770 crore in compensation for the Sardar Sarovar Project in favour of Gujarat. He claimed the Madhya Pradesh government will now pay Rs 550 crore to Gujarat, despite the western state being the largest beneficiary of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project. "Under pressure, the Chief Minister did not strongly advocate for Madhya Pradesh and quietly signed the agreement, ignoring the state's interests. This act of his is a betrayal of the farmers of 192 villages that will be submerged due to the Sardar Sarovar Dam," Singh said. PTI MAS NSK