MPs seek justice for tribals in Narmada Valley

New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) Cutting across political lines, ten members of parliament have sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's immediate intervention to stop a further rise in the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam.

The decision of the Narmada Control Authority to raise the dam height from 110.64 to 122 metres will submerge more areas, affecting 30,000 more tribal families, they said in a letter to the PM.

The MPs -- members of the Parliamentary Select Committee going into the issue of Tribal Bill -- said the Supreme Court had made it clear that the dam's height could not be raised without full rehabilitation measures including 'land for land' for the affected families is put in place.

MPs Mahavir Bhagora (BJP), Giridhar Gamang (Cong), P P Koya (JD-U), Baju Ban Riang (CPM), Babu Rao (CPM), Rishang Keishing (Cong), Radhakant Naik (Cong), Mangani Lal Mandal (RJD), Nand Kishore Yadav (SP) and Brinda Karat (CPM) signed the letter.

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