The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has opposed the Madhya Pradesh government's move to fill up the Maheshwar dam up to a height of 154 metres and has warned of a “ jal satyagraha” if the government goes ahead with the decision. The State government, along with the Maheshwar project promoter Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Ltd (SMHPCL), has asked permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to fill up the dam up to 154 metres. A MoEF team that visited the affected areas on March 22 and 23, is yet to submit its report on the matter. The NBA has opposed the State government move as being “arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional” and expressed “grave apprehension” that any such filling may cause the death of hundreds and thousands of villagers falling in the submergence zone. “As per the letter of Secretary, Union Ministry of Power dated 18.02.2011 and the opinion of Central Electricity Authority dated 17.02.2011, no synchronisation and electricity generation is possible at 154 metres,” said Alok Agarwal of the NBA. “If any permission is given for filling up the dam, the villagers will embark on jal satyagraha and will die rather than abandon their lands and homes without rehabilitation and resettlement,” said Mr. Agarwal. No study conducted The NBA claims that the State government has no estimate of the areas that will be submerged if the water level is raised, since no study has been done in this regard. The area behind the Maheshwar dam in the plains of the Narmada Valley is absolutely flat. Thus, even a small submergence may cause the “drowning and death of thousands of persons” in the area. Citing the Supreme Court judgment of March 2005 (Narmada Bachao Andolan vs. Union of India & Ors.), the NBA claimed that raising of water level could only be permitted six months after the completion of rehabilitation and resettlement and the State government's move would amount to contempt of the SC order. According to the NBA, less than 15% of the project-affected people (from 61 villages) have been rehabilitated till date. The NBA has also demanded action against Khargone District Collector for providing a “false certificate” to the SMHPCL, which stated that filling of the reservoir up to 154 metres would not cause any submergence. “Area behind the dam is flat hence a small submergence will cause thousands of deaths” Less than 15% of the project-affected people have been rehabilitated so far