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SC clears decks for controversial Sardar Sarovar dam
Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the decks for the construction of controversial Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river.
Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the decks for the construction of controversial Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river.
The SC said the dam will benefit three states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as per the tribunal award but made any further construction subject to clearance from the environmental and rehabilitation authorities. The dam, at present, has a height of 88 metres but the court last year had given clearance for the construction till the height of 90 metres. The tribunal envisages the maximum height of the dam at 138 metres.
Construction of the dam will continue as per the award of the tribunal keeping in mind the cost economics of the project, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice A S Anand held by a majority of two to one.
Justice S P Bharucha who gave lone dissenting judgement ordered immediate stoppage of construction activities at the dam site but said that 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.
The majority judgement written by Justice B N Kirpal said that the construction work of the dam till a height of 90 metre could be taken up immediately saying the relief and rehabilitation of the ousted has been carried out satisfactorily by three state governments of Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat.
The bench said for the construction in stages however, will depend on the clearances given by the environmental impact group and authorities monitoring the rehabilitation work.
The SC said the dam will benefit three states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as per the tribunal award but made any further construction subject to clearance from the environmental and rehabilitation authorities. The dam, at present, has a height of 88 metres but the court last year had given clearance for the construction till the height of 90 metres. The tribunal envisages the maximum height of the dam at 138 metres.
Construction of the dam will continue as per the award of the tribunal keeping in mind the cost economics of the project, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice A S Anand held by a majority of two to one.
Justice S P Bharucha who gave lone dissenting judgement ordered immediate stoppage of construction activities at the dam site but said that 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.
The majority judgement written by Justice B N Kirpal said that the construction work of the dam till a height of 90 metre could be taken up immediately saying the relief and rehabilitation of the ousted has been carried out satisfactorily by three state governments of Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat.
The bench said for the construction in stages however, will depend on the clearances given by the environmental impact group and authorities monitoring the rehabilitation work.
Bureau Report