Soz panel report based on rumours: Chouhan

Bhopal, July 11 (UNI) Two months after a group of ministers from the Centre made a spot visit to hear the grievances of the people affected by the Sardar Sarowar Project on the Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today took exception saying the state government was not taken into confidence before the ministerial visit.

Alleging that the group of ministers, led by Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, had prepared a report based on rumours and false data, Mr Chouhan said it should be considered whether Mr Soz should be allowed to continue in the cabinet after he submitted a baseless report to the Prime Minister.

The group of ministers, also comprising Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar and MoS in PMO Prithviraj Chouhan, had criticised the state government's rehabilitation and resettlement programme pointing out several lapses.

The group of ministers actually wanted to put the state government in a tight spot, but could not succeed, he said, adding it should be inquired as to who was behind the team's visit, which caused confusion.

The Chief Minister, however, appreciated Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for presenting the facts before the Supreme Court yesterday saying it indicated that Dr Singh was averse to politics in development works.

Mr Chouhan also objected to the Soz committee's observation that compensation was distributed on a caste basis and the resttlement sites lacked basic facilities like road, electricity, drinking water, drains and sanitation. It is highly objectionable that Income Tax was being deducted on the compensation, he added.

He claimed that as many as 14,123 families were resettled since September last year while a total of only 10,298 families could be resettled in the past 13 years, when Congress was in power for most of the time.

About 90 per cent of the dam-affected families opted for special resettlment package. Similarly, the DAPs were provided 3671 hectare land in lieu of 1470 hectare acquired from them, Mr Chouhan added.

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