SC to decide on continuation of SSD project on May 8

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court shall pass an order on May 8 and decide whether the ongoing construction work to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) project should be stopped.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice S B Sinha while adjourning the hearing till next Monday directed senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, appearing for Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), to make brief submissions in writing by Thursday.

The Court also directed the respondents, including the Centre, the state of Madhya Pradesh and the state of Gujarat, to file their replies to the brief written submissions to be filed by the petitioner NBA. The replies are to be filed latest by Saturday.

Earlier Mr Bhushan sought to buttress his allegations that relief and rehabilitation work was not been carried out in the right spirit. He heavily relied on the affidavit of the state of Madhya Pradesh in which the Madhya Pradesh govt has virtually admitted that most of civic amenities are under construction, making it clear that civic amenities like schools, panchayat ghars, water and electricity as well as public conveniences are yet to be provided at rehabilitation sites.

The Chief Justice also looked convinced with the contention that relief and rehabilitation measures were inadequate and a lot still needed to be done. Mr Shanti Bhushan at one stage remarked that NBA has lost faith in the Prime Minister also as he has also proved to be like any other politician and they want to make complete nonsense of the award made by this court vide its judgment in 2000 and 2005.

Mr Bhushan also pleaded for the appointment of a court monitored committee to make an on the spot assessment of the Relief and Rehabilitation Measures (R and R Measures) and report to this Court.

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