Date:16/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/16/stories/2006041602960100.htm

Back Decision on Narmada Dam issue may be left to SC

Our Bureau

Review Committee fails to arrive at consensus

DRAWING BLANK: (From left) The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan; the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi; the Union Environment Minister, Mr A. Raja; the Union Water Resource Minister, Mr Saifuddin Soz; and the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, at the review meeting of the Narmada Control Authority in the Capital on Saturday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , April 15

With the Review Committee of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) unable to arrive at a consensus with Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam (Narmada Dam) , the controversial issue may go back to the Supreme Court.

It was a day of high drama. After a meeting, attended by the Union Environment Minister, Mr A. Raja, the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ms Vasundhara Raje and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Water Resources Minister and Chairman of the NCA, Mr Saifuddin Soz, said he would submit a report to the Prime Minister reflecting the views expressed by the Chief Ministers at today's meeting.

"It is open to the Honourable Supreme Court to consider whether construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam should be temporarily suspended till such time as rehabilitation and resettlement of the project-affected families is done in consonance with its directions," Mr Soz said in a statement, asserting that he has not ordered the suspension of the construction work on the dam.

The statement further said, "Meeting of the Review Committee of the NCA fully recognised that the dam needs to be constructed as it will provide several benefits to the people in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat."

"However, at the meeting, there was no consensus on the issue whether construction of the dam should be suspended in view of the fact that rehabilitation and resettlement of the project-affected families in Madhya Pradesh has not been to the satisfaction of the requirements laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court," it added.

Incidentally, Mr Soz initially announced after the meeting that he, as Chairman of the NCA, has ordered the suspension of the work, but later amended it saying the work was in the process of being suspended as it was being immediately recommended to the Prime Minister. Afterwards, he diluted his stand further by saying that he would submit a report to the Prime Minister stating all viewpoints.

The Government had called the meeting in the wake of protests by Narmada Bachao Andolan led by Ms Medha Patkar demanding an immediate halt on the work to increase the height of the dam.