NEW DELHI: Three United Nations rights experts on Monday expressed concern about the decision of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river.

In a statement, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders Hina Jalani, Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living Miloon Kothari, and Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People Rodolfo Stavenhagen said they were concerned about information indicating that the Madhya Pradesh Government rehabilitation sites were still not ready and that none of the sites had sufficient house plots for affected families.

They urged the Central Government to release the report of the three Union Ministers, who visited the Narmada Valley on April 7 to assess the status of rehabilitation. "The Centre should ensure that any further raising of the dam would not violate human rights of those affected."They wanted allegations of indiscriminate and excessive use of force by the police against activists engaged in peaceful protest against raising of the dam height be properly investigated, and action taken against officers found guilty of such excesses. They said proper investigation be undertaken with respect to allegations of false charges, if any, against Medha Patkar and other NBA activists.

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