MP Govt not interested in rehabilitating SSP affected:Medha

Bhopal, Mar 13 (UNI) Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar today alleged the state governments in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat had no interest in legal rehabilitation of the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected.

Ms Patkar told reporters here most population of displaced was in Madhya Pradesh still the survey of backwater level in submergence areas was not complete.

She said this was clear from a letter written by the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA).

It was clear from the letter, which was in the possession of the NBA, that the survey of areas to be affected when water from the reservoir entered into tributaries of the Narmada river.

She said the gravity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that some colonies in the submergence zone had a population of 5,000.

The NBA leader claimed Rs 20,000 crore Sardar Sarovar Project had failed to achieve its objective.

In Gujarat, Kutch-residents had submitted a petition to the Supreme Court stating their welfare was not being looked after by the dam.

Ms Patkar said Madhya Pradesh had been cheated most by the project, as it had received neither water nor electricity from the project.

At present, with the dam height of 122 metre, rehabilitation of 25,000 families was pending. On raising the height to 138 metre, 15,000 more families will come under submergence zone.

The NBA leader said the Shunglu Committee had stated in its report that the Madhya Pradesh Government did not possess cultivable land to be given to farmers.

Under such circumstances, tribals were still waging their struggle despite their land coming under submergence zone because they had no farm and no home.

Ms Patkar said putting up a gate at 122 metre height of the dam was not appropriate from legal point of view. The NBA will not accept it and oppose it tooth and nail.

UNI