Chudasama's assertion came at a meeting he had with a delegation of the International Congress on Large Dams (ICOLD) in Vadodara on Thursday. The delegation, on a two-day visit to the state, visited on Saturday the Narmada dam site at Kevadia where corporation officials briefed them on the progress of works on the project.

Thirty-one members of the ICOLD representing different countries having large dams have arrived in India to attend the ICOLD's executive committee meeting commencing in Delhi from today. ICOLD's executive meets in different countries by rotation every three years.

The Narmada Development Corporation chairman clarified that the ICOLD comprises irrigation and agriculture experts and sociologists drawn from different countries as its membersand that it never opposes large dams in any country. It only expresses its suggestions and opinions on how such large projects can be effectively implemented.

Underlining the importance and need for the Narmada dam project, Chudasama told ICOLD members that the ``project is not only a lifeline of Gujarat, but will also prove a boon for the three other participating states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan''. He informed them that at present only 10 per cent of the Narmada water could be put to use, while the rest of the river water gets drained into the sea.

When completed, the Narmada project would help check the deserts from advancing towards the fertile land and recharge the depleting ground water in several drought-prone parts of the state. Besides, it will solve the fluoride content water problem especially found in North Gujarat and Saurashtra.

The corporation chief also informed the ICOLD delegation that the government was taking due care of the project affected persons (PAPs)resettled in Gujarat.