NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar on Tuesday sought a "clarification" from the Government on the three-member V.K. Shunglu Committee constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to report on rehabilitation of Narmada dam-displaced families.

The setting up of the panel without taking the affected people into confidence was one-sided, she said in a statement.

The Prime Minister should have first ordered suspension of the construction of the dam. Its height was being raised in violation of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal award and Supreme Court orders, which said the displaced families should be settled at rehabilitation sites six months prior to the exercise. Ms. Patkar said the Shunglu Committee was asked to submit report in three months.

But by then the dam height would have been raised to from 110.64 to 121.92 metres. The terms of reference of the panel mentioned a Special Rehabilitation Package of cash compensation, whereas there was no provision for cash in the tribunal award or court orders, she said.

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