Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat is a multipurpose mega scale dam. It was launched in Narmada valley of central India in the early phase of 1980. Its advocates say that it would benefit huge areas of Gujarat and the three adjoining states in terms of availability of drinking water and water for irrigation, generation of electricity and increase in agricultural production. The project consisted of 30 big dams, 135 medium sized and around 3,000 small dams to be constructed on the Narmada and its tributaries that flow across three states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh was another important and biggest, multipurpose dam planned under the project.
Narmada Bachao movement opposed the construction of these dams to save Narmada river and questioned the nature of ongoing developmental projects in the country.
