Centre assures construction will not be stopped

New Delhi, Apr 17 (UNI) Taking a 'please all' stand in the Sardar Saravar Dam case, the Centre today informed the Supreme Court that the Narmada dam was a measure of progress and the construction must go on.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told a three judge bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice S B Sinha that the Centre was sincerely committed to the task of rehabilitation of oustees who have lost their land due to submergence.

The ASG also submitted that specific directions also be issued that in case an oustee refuses to accept an alternative piece of land, the government should be allowed to pay compensation in terms of money to such a person.

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