Narmada minister urges NGOs to help SSP oustees

VADODARA, June 8: State Minister for Narmada Development and Irrigation Projects Jaynarayan Vyas has sought co-operation from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help the State government provide compensation and rehabilitation to the Sardar Sarovar Project-affected people.

Vyas, during a meeting with the NGOs of the State here on Sunday, said that not only the government, but all NGOs and other organisations would have to join hands for the next two years to extend all possible help to all those who were affected by developmental projects. He also apprised the gathering of the status of canals network in the State which, he said, was nearing completion. He said the work, which was temporarily stopped, would be resumed immediately after the monsoons.

Elaborating, Vyas said that the network of the 293-km canals of the SSP, which included 109-km in Saurashtra areas, was likely to be completed by 2000 AD. The State government was concerned about the rehabilitation of the SSP oustees, he added.

Story continues below this ad

and was doing everything possible with the help of the Madhya Pradesh government and NGOs from both the states. He urged upon the NGOs to work at the grassroot level and help the State government solve problems being faced by the project-affected people.

Besides several social and environmental activists, senior officials of the Irrigation and Canal departments also participated in the meeting. Vyas will hold another meeting with NGOs on July 24.