Tribunal damns Narmada dam rehabilitation plan

Mumbai, April 11


The Indian People's Tribunal on environment and human rights has asked the Maharashtra government to come out with a "master plan" on rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected persons of Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada river.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Rambhushan Mehrotra, a retired judge of Allahabad high court, carried out an independent study on the status of rehabilitation in the state and concluded the rehabilitation has been grossly inadequate in a recent report "Dammed Future," an official release said here on Tuesday.

"Therefore, the government should make available the master plan as a priority as it was also a major stipulation in Narmada water dispute tribunal award of 1979 to formulate such a plan for resettlement within two years, that is 1981, which is so far not ready," Mr Mehrotra said. The IPT, which was set up in 1993 as an alternative "people's court," also sought rehabilitation of the families "before any further construction of the dam in the state."

Mr Mehrotra also recommended setting up an independent committee consisting of not just government officials but also representatives of project affected people and organisations working in the area to identify project affected communities and families.

"The committee should also ascertain availability, identity and adequacy of land for resettlement and rehabilitation," he said.(PTI)