The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) on Saturday slammed a “dubious and misleading” press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) stating that permission for phase one proposal of the Sardar Sarovar dam was granted. It demanded a review of the decision to increase the height of the dam to 138 metres.
The PIB issued a statement of the Ministry of Water Resources on July 3 which said that permission was granted by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) for phase one proposal of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL). This comprised construction of piers, over head bridges and installation of gates at the dam. The release also said that in the absence of NCA’s permission construction work at the dam site in Kevadia colony had come to a stand still. In the absence of gates the dam was overflowing for the last two months. The installation of spillways piers will take the dam to its full height of 138 metres.
The PIB statement comes after the NCA on June 12 cleared an eight- year- old proposal to increase the height of the SSP by 17 metres. The NBA challenges the contention that the dam was overflowing for the last two months.
Even with the gates in raised position and allowing the overflow of water - the submergence behind the dam wall will increase by 1.62 metre. The NBA asked if the NCA has examined the question of rehabilitating affected families whose land will go under water in this scenario. The NBA reiterated the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award's clauses on submergence and rehabilitation which state that all the affected families must be rehabilitated six months prior to the decision to start construction work. Quoting recent media reports, the NBA statement said that on June 21, low water flow had forced SSNNL authorities to shut down River Bed Power House.
After the agitation by displaced persons in June, there was a meeting with the Union Water Resources Minister on June 24, who promised to direct NCA officials to verify the rehabilitation status. The government should have given information on the unfinished agenda of resettlement and rehabilitation as per the law and Supreme Court directives, the NBA statement pointed out.
