Monday, April 17 2006 12:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre today (Apr 17, 2006) told the Supreme Court that it was committed to construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the river Narmada and favoured constituting a committee to evolve a suitable mechanism to rehabilitate the people displaced by the project. The Centre informed a Bench, headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal that the oustees would be completely rehabilitated before August, 2006, the period of onset of monsoon.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian said if the Centre is not able to complete the rehabilitation by then, it would come out with a temporary rehabilitationnprogramme which would be followed by a permanent one.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan seeking to halt construction of the dam involving raising its height from 110 metres to 122 metres.

The Centre said a direction should be passed to the Madhya Pradesh Government that it will abide by the mechanismevolved by the proposed committee.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh Government, said before passing any order in this regard the state should be heard.

During the hearing, the Court noted that the project would go on and that the oustees would be rehabilitated in the letter and spirit of the apex Court judgement passed in 2000.

The Court observed, "What is necessary is that the issue should not be discussed in an emotive and charged atmosphere but in a congenial atmosphere. Such type of dispute is a threat to public security".

The Court said it was essential to strike a balance when such a vast project was being carried out and a large number of people were affected.

"You cannot satisfy all but rehabilitation has to be reasonable and it requires a statesman-like approach," the Court added.

The Additional Solicitor General said there was a need to find a solution to the problem, rather that adding further dimensions to it.

"We are prepared and I submit that under the authority of the Prime Minister, there will be an authority to work overtime before submergence to rehabilitate the oustees. We feel that we may achieve that task in the three months," the ASG said.

Pressing for an injuction on the construction to raise the height of the dam on behalf of the NBA, senior counsel Shanti Bhushan said the rehabilitation work ought to have been completed 12 months before the submersion.

The Court adjourned the matter, and will hear it later in the day.