NCA meet to discuss dam issue

BARODA, JAN. 9. A crucial meeting of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) review committee would be held in Delhi tomorrow by the four beneficiary States, to discuss the issue of fixing a time-table for construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam, its height and the resettlement of Project Affected People (PAP).

The Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan would attend the meeting, the chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, told PTI here today, adding the meeting would be chaired by the Union Water Resources Minister, Mr. Arjun Sethi.

Madhya Pradesh was expected to take a positive view regarding Gujarat's proposal to increase the height by five metres, official sources said, adding the dam height had already been raised to 90 meters from 85 meters. The resettlement of Project Affected People has also become a major point of friction between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with the former insisting on resettlement after raising of the height and the latter disagreeing, it said.

About 6080 people from MP had already been rehabilitated in Gujarat while nearly 8000 more have expressed willingness to settle down in Gujarat.

Gujarat would plead before the NCA to raise the height of the dam to 110 meters by June 2002, instead of June 2003, so that beneficiary States could start deriving project benefits as early as possible.

The meet would also discuss the outstanding dues of Madhya Pradesh, Mahrashtra and Rajasthan to Gujarat for construction of dam.

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Section  : Other States
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