The Hindu : National : Maharashtra assurance to Andolan

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Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

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National

Maharashtra assurance to Andolan

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, JULY 14. The Narmada Bachao Andolan today called off its two-day satyagraha after the Maharashtra Government promised to set right within a month and a half the rehabilitation problems of families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP).

A delegation of the NBA today met the Rehabilitation Minister, Patangrao Kadam, who wanted to know why the Government did not implement decisions of the State Cabinet with regard to rehabilitation.

He told the delegation led by Medha Patkar that the State Government would try to resolve the dispute over families affected by the dam within a month's time and allow a fortnight for the NBA to verify this list.

He said the NBA would have access to records at the district level for purposes of verification of claims.

Ms. Patkar had earlier said that two-thirds of those who were going to be displaced by the dam were yet to be officially acknowledged as projected affected people.

Dr. Kadam said any one kind of proof — a voter ID card, a ration card or any other official paper — is enough for the people to establish that they were entitled to compensation.

Dr. Kadam had visited the satyagraha site on Tuesday and decided to hold the meeting of the Overview and Rehabilitation Planning Committee today itself, instead of Thursday as earlier announced.

The Divisional Commissioner of the area would have complete powers in matters of taking decisions on rehabilitation issues instead of the high-power committee that was constituted for this purpose.

He assured the delegation that efforts would be made on a war-footing to take care of the families.

He said private land could be bought to resettle the affected families.

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