SSP's new dam height not cause of concern

Bhopal, Jan 16: Asserting that increase in the Sardar Sarovar Project's dam height to 121.92 metre was not a cause of concern, the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) has clarified that project-affected families to this dam height had been rehabilitated.

''All displaceable families of 177 villages affected by 121.92 metre dam height had already been rehabilitated,'' NVDA Vice Chairman Uday Kumar Verma said, in response to the statements issued by some organisations.

Besides, Rs 362.47 crore was disbursed to these 24,421 families as compensation for their immovable properties.

The project-affected families possessing agriculture land were given the option to take land in place of land or special rehabilitation package, an official release here said.

While 306 families choose to take land for land, 3,980 families accepted special package. Out of these, 2,205 families purchased land of their own choice.

He claimed that that the special package helped 2,205 project-affected families -- who were initially possessing 1,690 hectare -- to purchase 4,815 hectare.

As many as 80 rehabilitation sites were developed for the resettlement of affected families. Each families were being provided residential plot free of cost to build house. Those who refuse to take plot were given Rs 50,000.

UNI