M A I N   N E W S

Narmada dam gets SC’s nod

NEW DELHI, Oct 18 (PTI) — In a major setback to the anti-dam movement, the Supreme Court today gave a green signal for the construction of the controversial Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river up to a height of 138 metres as per a tribunal award, but made it clear that further construction was subject to clearance from the environmental and rehabilitation authorities.

The majority judgement written by Mr Justice B.N. Kirpal on behalf of the three-judge Bench headed by Mr Chief Justice A.S. Anand said the construction work up to a height of 90 metres could be taken up immediately. It held that the relief and rehabilitation of the oustees had been carried out satisfactorily by the three state governments of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

“Construction of the dam will continue as per the award of the tribunal keeping in mind the cost economics of the project,” the Bench held by a majority of two to one.

The dam, at present, has a height of 88 metres, but the court last year had given clearance up to a height of 90 metres. The tribunal envisages the maximum height of the dam at 138 metres.

Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha, who gave the lone dissenting judgement, ordered immediate stoppage of the construction activities at the dam site, but said the work could be resumed only after the Environmental Impact Group of Ministry of Environment and Forest took a detailed survey of the project and cleared it.