Gaps in rehab but MP can fix: Narmada panel reports back

There are several gaps in the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam project but these gaps can be plugged in the next few months...

There are several gaps in the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam project but these gaps can be plugged in the next few months if the Madhya Pradesh government acts in a concerted manner. And the 3,800 of the 4,200 families who have got cash compensation, as per state government records, have indeed got the cash.

These are some of the key findings of the exhaustive survey done by the three-member team, appointed by the Prime Minister and headed by V K Shunglu, in the wake of the latest Narmada controversy.

The report was handed over to Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today.

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In one of the largest surveys of its kind, 100 National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) teams met 26,000 families in 177 villages. Though the report is yet to be made public, sources say that the report has listed 6,000 families who say they have been unfairly left out of the compensation package.

Praising the committee for its “good and hard work”, Soz said the report would be placed before the Supreme Court. “It is for the apex court to assess and take further action as it deems proper,” he said.

Narmada Bachao Andolan’s Medha Patkar had gone on hunger strike claiming that the oustees had not been rehabilitated and hence work at the site on raising the dam height from 110 m to 121 m should be stopped immediately.

The Supreme Court, hearing the case in May, ruled that dam work should continue until the Shunglu committee submits its report.

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The Supreme Court is now slated to hear the case on July 7 and will take a view based on this report.

Incidentally, Patkar has already written a letter to the Prime Minister expressing dissatisfaction at the survey methodology and the working of the Shunglu committee.

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