PM okays Narmada rehab group

The move follows the recommendation made by Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz earlier in April.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday approved the setting up of a group to review the rehabilitation of the people affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project, to be chaired by VK Shunglu, former comptroller and auditor general of India, an official release said.

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The move follows the recommendation made by Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz earlier in April after a meeting of the Review Committee of the Narmada Control Authority failed to arrive at a decision regarding the increase in the height of the dam, under construction in central Gujarat.

While Gujarat favours continuing the work to raise the height to 122 metres from 110 metres as permitted by the Narmada Control Authority last month, the Narmada Bachao Andolan had protested, saying not enough measures were in place to rehabilitate those to be affected by the targeted height -- in accordance with a Supreme Court directive.