The court made the observations after the Centre conveyed its commitment to the construction of the dam and its proposal of constituting a committee to evolve a suitable mechanism to rehabilitate the people displaced by the project.
SC ruling on Narmada dam postponed
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.
"What is necessary is that the issue should not be discussed in an emotive and charged atmosphere but in a congenial atmosphere... Such a dispute is a threat to public security," observed the bench, headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal.
It was hearing a petition filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan seeking a halt to the construction of the dam involving raising of its height from 110 metres to 122 metres.