Stop work on Maheshwar, demands NBA

Bhopal, Feb 12 (UNI) Many residents of the Narmada valley took out a rally and started two-day dharna here today demanding that work on the Maheshwar dam should be stopped immediately in the light of 'human, financial and technical flaws' in the project.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan, which organised the protest, also demanded that the state government should issue a white paper placing the truth about the project before the people.

Talking to reporters here today, Andolan activist Alok Agarwal said even 13 years after the project was cleared, no relief and reabilitation of the affected was carried out. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has repeatedly censured the project for grave financial irregularities, he said.

Mr Agarwal said the Central Water Commission should re-survey the Maheshwar project area to identify the submergence area and the affected people. He warned that the agitation would be excalated to force closure of the dam work.

UNI