NEW DELHI: Despite claims to the contrary, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India for Gujarat (Commercial) has held that a company formed for the Sardar Sarovar Project's bulk water transmission diverted water meant for the drought-prone villages of Kachchh to non- drought-prone areas in the region and to industries in Gandhinagar. This is exactly what the Narmada Bachao Andolan — who were demanding a review of the cost and benefit ratio of the mammoth project that has displaced thousands of people in three States and submerged millions of acres of land — feared all along.

The CAG report for the year ending March 31, 2006, was tabled in the Assembly in March-end.

It criticised the performance of the Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited (GWIL) and found the company deficient in areas such as project planning, financing, implementation, pricing of water and internal control.

The report said the company deviated from the master plan resulting in diversion of domestic water to be supplied to the projected areas.

The most glaring diversion was of 255 million litres per day to Gandhinagar, which was not covered under the master plan.

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