Mumbaiites take SC ruling on Narmada dam in their stride

However, Jehagir and others are confident that all the official machinery will have to bend when the people take over. “The power of the people will assert itself. The SC can’t just finish off the matter like that,” says Lyla Mehta, a researcher with the NBA. The SC decision has upset them all and now they await the next course of action advised by the NBA after the meeting of its core members.

“We will not take to violence, don’t worry,” assures Jehagir, “but we will also not take this decision lying down.” The SC has asked the Narmada Water Tribunal to finalise plans for the rehabilitation of the oustees within four weeks. “The Tribunal could not do that in 40 years. What makes the SC think that it will be done in four weeks?” thunders Jehagir. “The Madhya Pradesh and the Maharshtra governments have admitted that they do not have any land for the oustees.

Asked what she expects from the government and the judiciary, pat came the answer, “a little bit of honesty will go a long way.”