NCA pressurised to grant permission to raise height of SSD

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) Severely criticising the decision to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) supporters today alleged that authorities granted permission to the Gujarat Government under political pressure.

NBA supporters, social activist Swami Agnivesh, senior journalist Kuldip Nayyar and former Planning Commission member L C Jain condemned the decision of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the height of the dam from 110.64 m to 121.92 m, saying it will threaten lives of 25,000 families.

Swami Agnivesh demanded that Union Water Resources Secretary J Hari Narayan resign as the decision had violated the Narmada Tribunal Award and Supreme Court verdicts from 2000 to 2005 on the issue.

''There is a conspiracy.... politicians and bureaucrats are in collusion over this. Those who are guilty of violating the apex court verdict must be punished,'' he said.

The decision is a proof of how the BJP government in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are pursuing the ''anti-people'' policies, he alleged.

Mr Nayyar said despite Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz's statement that he was ''dissatisfied with the rehabilitation of the oustees'' the construction work is in progress.

''A conspiracy of silence is being carried out. How can it be that the Minister is giving one statement and within two days totally contradictory orders are being implemented?'' he added.

He demanded that the rules or statute under which the decision was taken be made public.

Mr Jain said the rehabilitation of the affected people had not been undertaken properly and the families were suffering.

''Just three days ago, a letter written by Mr Soz to me stated that all authorities would assess the records, reports and take the necessary consultations before approving any raise in height. Three days later, all of that seems to have been done and clearance granted.'' ''The ground reality has not been ascertained before taking the decision,'' he said.

On March 7, the NCA permitted the Gujarat Government to raise the height of the main dam of the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada river at Kevadia Colony by 12 m.

The permission was received after the NCA's 76th meeting, held in presence of the representatives of the partner states.

UNI NR SHB KN1727