Narmada: MPHC views cassette

Jabalpur, Aug 16 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court today viewed a cassette submitted by a petitioner and the administration while hearing a letter petition challenging ''excesses'' by the police and administration on people ousted in Barwani, Jhabua and other districts due to filling up of the Sardar Sarovar dam over the Narmada in neighbouring Gujarat's Bharuch district.

Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh heard the plea by Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar who is incarcerated at Indore.

The petitioner submitted that 195 villages were submerged in this state after the dam's reservoir filled to 122 m. Affected people were staging a ''peaceful'' demonstration in Barwani from the third week of July against lack of compensation. Ms Patkar was represented by Advocate N S Kale while the government was represented by Advocate K Pathak. The hearing would continue tomorrow.

UNI