Centre gets more time to file affidavit on Narmada canal project

New Delhi, Feb 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday granted more time to Union Environment and Forest Ministry to file affidavit on Narmada canal project in Madhya Pradesh.

The apex court bench consisting Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice J.M.Panchal and Justice B.S Chouhan extended the stay on construction of the Indira Sagar and the Onkareshwar projects in the Narmada Valley.

The bench adjourned the hearing on the matter to February 16.

The M.P. Government has filed an appeal in the apex Court for stay on the judgement of the Madhya Pradesh High Court due to which the work on land acquisition and canal construction for the two-mega projects has been stopped since July 1, 2009.

The MP High Court in its judgement said that the Command Area Development (CAD) planning and related environmental measures as well as rehabilitation of the canal affected families is fully and satisfactorily planned and should be approved by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which is arguing on behalf of the project affected people, urged the Court not to permit land acquisition and construction without the necessary planning of social and environmental measures, which are the statutory conditions and pre-requisites as per the environmental clearance and rehabilitation policy. (ANI)