Bharatiya Janata Party has condemned the United Progressive Alliance government's move to review the raising of the height of the Narmada Dam to 121 mt just because someone was putting pressure on the government by launching an agitation.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, party general secretary, Arun Jaitley said the decision of raising the dam height was taken after the Supreme Court directive in 2000.
"This is a weak-kneed government and it has bowed down to pressure and decided to order a review. Three ministers headed by Saifuddin Soz, minister of water resources, were sent to Narmada after protests and the group of ministers have recommended that the government should have another look at the raising of height of the dam. We will urge the government not to review the dam height. The work is already in full swing," he said.
He claimed the raising of the height would not only help in generating more electricity, but also take care of those areas of Gujarat where there is acute shortage of water right now.
"As far as the rehabilitation of the displaced persons is concerned, we are of the opinion that this should go on simultaneously with the development work. By the order of the Supreme Court, grievances redressal authorities have been set up in all the four concerned states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and the chairmen of these GRA's are retired judges who look into the problem of rehabilitation," he said.
Jaitley refused to name Medha Patkar throughout the press conference as she was the one who had gone on indefinite hunger strike forcing the government to take action. Medha Patkar is now under treatment in All India Institute of Medical Sciences.