The Hindu : National : `Assess SSP backwater effect'

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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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`Assess SSP backwater effect'

Gargi Parsai

To assess how many more families face the threat of submergence

NEW DELHI: The Narmada Control Authority on the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) in Gujarat, has asked the Central Water Commission (CWC) to study the backwater effect at the full height of the Narmada dam. This is to assess how many more families face the threat of submergence from the backwater effect. The present height of the dam is 122.92 metres.

The next and final height would be 138.68 metres.

In its meeting chaired by Secretary, Water Resources Gauri Chatterjee, the Authority reviewed the status of the rehabilitation and resettlement of the project affected families in the riparian States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. It went over the report of the rehabilitation and resettlement sub-group headed by Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Veena Chhotray. Senior officials from the States concerned attended the meeting.

According to official sources, up to February 28, a total of 14,619 families from Madhya Pradesh and 183 families from Maharashtra are to be resettled out of a total Projected Affected Families numbering 48,090. Of these over 8000 families may be settled in Gujarat.

The sources said these figures were tentative and the numbers may change after declaration of additional PAFs to be declared by the State Governments.

Even the Shunglu Oversight Group that went into the resettlement and rehabilitation of PAFs in Madhya Pradesh and inspected few sites, had recognised that there were 6,486 additional families seeking rehabilitation.

The NCA has asked the State governments to come before it with Action Plans for resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected families.

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