The Hindu : New Delhi News : Madhya Pradesh to file response on rehabilitation

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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
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Madhya Pradesh to file response on rehabilitation

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Madhya Pradesh government to respond to the Centre’s status report on the measures taken for relief and rehabilitation of the families affected by the Narmada dam project.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices S.B. Sinha and S.H. Kapadia gave this direction on an application filed by the Narmada Bacahao Andolan alleging that rehabilitation was not done in accordance with the court directions.

The Bench, after hearing counsel for the parties, granted eight weeks for the State government to file its response as well as suggestions on various aspects of rehabilitation.

The petitioners were also asked to give their suggestions.

Submergence problem

Counsel for the petitioner, Sanjay Parikh, said that despite court directions, cultivable land was not made available to the affected. The project-affected families (PFAs) which were not rehabilitated faced submergence during the last monsoon since the dam height had been increased to 121.92 metres.

He wanted the court to direct the Madhya Pradesh government to make available irrigable land to them through private purchase or acquisition. Relief and rehabilitation sites should be completed with all facilities expeditiously.

“Package thrust on families”

Counsel Prashant Bhushan alleged that most of the PAFs were forced to accept a Special Relief Package (SRP), viz. cash compensation in lieu of land.

These people should be given cultivable land on their refunding 50 per cent of the compensation.

Senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina, appearing for Madhya Pradesh, said all PFAs had accepted either land or the SRP except 214 families which declined to do so.

The Chief Justice told counsel that the court could pass an order only if they gave suggestions to solve the problem. Counsel agreed and the Bench granted time for filing response and suggestions.

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