Directive draws flak
while Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (MP) governments are set to resume construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (nba) has criticised the recent announcement by the Union government to raise the height of the proposed structure from 90 metres to 100 metres by June 2002. The NBA has alleged that the directive violates the conditions laid down by the Narmada Control Authority (nca) and the Supreme Court (sc) on the project. Last year, the SC had given the go-ahead for further construction of the dam and raising its height to 90 metres under certain conditions. The NCA has also framed rules of clearance for raising the height of the dam, which include rehabilitation of the affected people and environmental compensation. The NBA claims that more than 30,000 families, in the reservoir area of the Project, are yet to be rehabilitated. Both MP and Maharashtra have said that they have no land for the oustees. In MP, 3,555 families have to be resettled. "In spite of the fact that the NCA has refused to approve any further construction until the rehabilitation is complete, the Union government has passed this order,' allege NBA activists.