Gujarat Government said the 2-1 judgement by
the Supreme Court today giving the green signal to the Sardar
Sarovar Project(SSP) which by harnessing the Narmada river will
also benefit Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is long overdue in the
interest of the people.
Narmada Minister Jaynarayan Vyas and SSNNL Chairman Bhupendrasinh
Chudasama said the curtain has fallen on the long drawn litigation
initiated by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) which entailed
shelving of huge investment in the project.
The three states have been directed to comply with the award
of the Narmada Tribunal. The Review Committee constituted under the
award shall meet whenever required and also to settle any
differences,the minimum period at least once in three months to
monitor progress of the construction of the dam and implementation
of the rehabilitation and resettlement and environment programmes.
The PM will have the final say in case any dispute cannot be
resolved at the Committee-level.
After the debacle in the Panchayat and local body polls, the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat had a reason to
celebrate following the go ahead to the Sardar Sarovar Project.
A half-day holiday for all government employees was announced by
Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.
Mr Patel, addressing an employees' meeting in the Secretariat
premises in Gandhinagar, said the State Government's stand had been
vindicated in the Supreme Court. "Vijay Diwas" (Victory Day) will be
celebrated tomorrow marked by "Maha-aartis" (Prayers) at all
temples and houses across the state,he said.
The ruling was long overdue as the Narmada Tribunal had already
settled the matter. Mr.Patel's proclamation that there is no no
obstacle now now was greeted by cheers.
