Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Rehabilitation status of Sardar Sarovar Oustees to be on the website of Social Justice Ministry

The Prime Minister's Office, in order to keep the public informed, has directed the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to immediately post on its website information on the status of rehabilitation of the oustees of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). A direction to this effect has been made by PMO to the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment who heads the resettlement and rehabilitation subgroup of the SSP.

The Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal award and judgements of the Supreme Court clearly state that the oustees are to be rehabilitated ahead of further construction and it is only based on a report of rehabilitation that further construction of the dam is permitted. Inspite of institutional arrangements to ensure timely rehabilitation, the fact of rehabilitation often gets contested. The Government, therefore, has on its own taken the step of posting this information on the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The PMO has directed that village-wise details of project affected families (PAF) as per specific dam height should be made available to the public.