New Delhi: The Supreme Court today directed
Uttarakhand government and Tehri Development Corporation to
take urgent steps to provide rehabilitation and succor to
those displaced and affected by the construction of Tehri dam.
A Bench of Justices R V Ravindran and Justice A K Patnaik
asked the state and the Corporation to provide funds for
rehabilitation of 158 additional affected families in 26
villages who had been left out during the previous surveys for
rehabilitation and compensation.
The court ordered construction of three bridges within a
year at Dobra, Ghonti and Chinyali Saur to facilitate
connectivity to local people that has been disrupted due to
the project.
Pending completion of the bridges, the people should be
provided with ferry boat services on both sides of the lake
on Bhagirathi and Bhilangana valley or alternatively ropeway
facilities as the dam has created a reservoir of around 42 sq
km.
It asked the government to construct new roads connecting
the affected areas.
About 400 shopkeepers, whose businesses have been
affected due to the displacement, should be rehabilitated and
compensated adequately, the Bench said.
The apex court ordered that public buildings or
institutions that have been submerged or affected due to the
dam should be reconstructed by the government.
It asked the authorities to complete within four months
the three promised drinking water schemes--Koshiyar Tal
pumping scheme, Sarjyula pumping scheme and Pratap nagar
pumping scheme.
Justice Raveendran, heading the Bench, asked the
grievance redressal cell to expeditiously dispose of pending
rehabilitation cases and ensure that no affected family goes
without rehabilitation.
It directed the matter to be listed for further hearing
after six months.
Senior counsel Colin Gonzalves and counsel Anita Shenoy
and Sanjay Parekh appeared for petitioners in the case who had
complained about tardy rehabilitation measures.
-PTI
