Berlin: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has set up a three-member committee, headed by the former Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, V.K. Shunglu, to go into the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project.

The committee, with J.P. Narain, convener of the non-governmental organisation, Lok Satta, and G.K. Chadha, former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, as members, will have a three-month tenure.

Dr. Singh's media adviser Sanjaya Baru said here the committee was asked to conduct sample surveys to ascertain the status of rehabilitation and gather facts such as the total number of submergence-affected families.

It would go into the issue of the total number of families which had not received relief and rehabilitation as per norms, and verify whether alternative land was offered to the oustees and whether it was true that those who did not take it made a voluntary decision.

The committee would recommend a system to ensure that all families affected by submergence when the dam height was raised from 110 to 121.92 metres received relief within three months according to the norms laid down under the Narmada tribunal award, the Supreme Court and the Grievances Redress Authority set up by the Madhya Pradesh Government.

Recently, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar went on a 21-day fast demanding rehabilitation of the affected people. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail