As of 30 June 2001, excavation work of the main Sardar Sarovar dam was complete to the extent of 98.97 per cent, while concreting work was 87.38 per cent complete.

The 458 km Narmada Main Canal is being implemented in several phases, of which the first three are under implementation. Work on the first two phases of the main canal (covering 264 km) is more than 95 per cent complete. The third phase covering a distance of 93 km is underway. Excavation work of this phase is complete to the extent of 77.43 per cent, while lining and concreting is less than 40 per cent done.

Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNL), the project implementing agency, has estimated that the main dam would be completed by June 2005 subject to necessary clearances. Work pertaining to canals would be completed in phases.

Background: The entire project comprises the construction of a 1210 metre long concrete gravity dam across river Narmada in Gujarat, and 458 km of Narmada Main Canal from the dam, going up to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. This would be supported by branch canals and a distribution network having an aggregate length of 75,000 km. The project also encompasses the construction of two hydel power plants with a total capacity of 1450 MW.