| 1901 | Construction of dam on Narmada River proposed. |
| 1947 | Investigations begun into Narmada’s potential for irrigation and electricity. |
| 1961 | Prime Minister Jawalarl Nehru lays foundation stone for Narmada dams project. |
| 1985 | World Bank approves $450 million loan to India for Sardar Sarovar. Residents affected by the dam organize protest movement. |
| 1961 | Government of Gujarat gives approval for Narmada Valley Project. The project includes plans for 3,165 small, medium and large dams. Prime Minister Nehru inaugurates the project. |
| 1986 | Construction begins on Sardar Sarovar dam. |
| 1993 | Citing project irregularities, World Bank withdraws from Sardar Sarovar. |
| 1995 | India’s Supreme Court stops construction of dam. |
| 2000 | Supreme Court allows building construction to continue up to 90 meters (295 ft.). Additional construction to the dam’s planned height of 138 meters (453 ft.) requires approval by the Narmada Control Authority in five-meter (16 ft.) increments. |
| 2002 | Narmada Bachao Andolan protest movement reports est. 30,000 families not resettled. Dam’s height increased to 95 meters (312 ft.). |
| 2003 | Sardar Sarovar dam reaches 103 meters (338 ft.). In July, earthquake of 4.3 magnitude shakes dam. |
September 18th, 2003
The Damned
Data: Water, India, and Construction
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