Monitoring the Narmada dam height

Last fortnight, when the Narmada Control Authority cleared the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam to 121m...

Last fortnight, when the Narmada Control Authority NCA cleared the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam to 121m, Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz issued a statement expressing his reservations about the steps taken to protect the people likely to be affected by the step. He said he would also call a meeting of the NCA Review Committee.

In 1999, when the Supreme Court allowed construction of the dam to resume after 10 years, it set up an elaborate system to address two major concerns: rehabilitation of oustees in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and the possible environmental damage. In its 80-page order, it laid down an inter-disciplinary mechanism that has at its apex the NCA, vested with the authority to clear the height of the dam in stages8212;90m, 110m, 121m and finally 136m. These are the various rungs mandated by the SC:

GRIEVANCES REDRESSAL AUTHORITY

This is the first door that the oustee can knock at. It was constituted to obviate the need for the courts to come in. The four state governments concerned have all constituted the Grievances Redressal Authorities GRAs headed by either a retired Supreme Court judge or an eminent high court judge. With a staff of 20-25, they serve as the eyes and ears of the court, looking into all aspects of rehabilitation. They can resolve disputes over land or compensations and their directives are binding upon the government. At present, nearly 5,000 cases are lying with the GRAs.

RESETTLEMENT, REHABILITATION SUB-GROUP

Headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this is an interdisciplinary body with 14 members, including secretaries of Relief and Rehabilitation in each state. It also has a commissioner from the Water Resources Ministry, secretary from Tribal Development. Three-four members are academicians or representatives from NGOs in the committee. Its main job is to review the reports of agencies entrusted by each state to monitor rehabilitation and progress of land acquisition in every phase of submergence. It consults the GRA before it prepares its reports.

ENVIRONMENT SUB-GROUP

Headed by the secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, it looks into the environmental impact of any height increase on the flora and fauna and ecological damage as a result of submergence.

NARMADA CONTROL AUTHORITY

The two sub-groups submit their reports to the Narmada Control Authority NCA. This is an inter-state body comprising senior bureaucrats who take decision on increasing the height after going through reports of the two sub-groups. The NCA is headed by the secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, and has as members the Union secretaries from ministries of Power, Environment 038; Forests, Social Justice 038; Empowerment and Tribal Affairs as well as chief secretaries of the four states.

REVIEW COMMITTEE OF NARMADA

Control authority The RCNCA headed by the Union Minister of Water Resources, also has the Minister for Environment 038; Forests and the chief ministers of the four states. The secretary, Union Ministry of Water Resources, is the convener of the RCNCA, which can suo-motu or on the application of any party state or Union secretary, review a decision of the NCA.