National
NBA ends sit-in stir
By Our Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI, FEB. 9. The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)today ended its indefinite sit-in outside the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment here today.
The protest ended after the Minister, Satyanarayan Jatiya, reached the protest site and informed the activists that the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Sub-Group had not given any permission for further construction on the Sardar Sarovar dam. His Ministry would not allow any injustice to the project- affected families.
Mr. Jatiya met the NBA leader, Medha Patkar. The protesters informed him of the gravity of the situation in the Narmada Valley and alleged that work on the dams were being pushed ahead for political reasons without resettlement, environment or financial plans.
They urged the Minister to take up the issue of a draft rehabilitation policy which had been held up due to opposition from other Ministries such as the Ministry of Water Resources and Power. Mr. Jatiya promised to look into the matter.
Ms. Patkar said the Secretary in the Ministry and Chairman of R&R Sub Group, Gopal Reddy, met an NBA delegation at the Karnataka Bhavan after senior officers of the sub-group had avoided them. He assured them that the proposed amendment to introduce cash compensation instead of land-for-land policy would only proceed in accordance with the Tribunal and Supreme Court judgment.
The NBA, Ms. Patkar said, had also been assured that the R&R Sub-Group would visit the Narmada Valley to review the rehabilitation work needed if the dam height was raised to 95 metres or 100 metres. As for the Environment Sub-Group, she said it would take a decision only on the basis of the conclusions drawn by the R&R Sub-Group.
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