The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) on Sunday called for scrapping of the Maheshwar power project in view of the Madhya Pradesh Government issuing notice to promoters S Kumars' Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation limited for cancelling the rehabilitation agreement.
NBA activist Alok Agarwal while talking to the media persons here said, "The government has issued notice to S Kumars for cancelling the rehabilitation agreement. land acquisition of 6,500 families in seven affected villages including Pathrad, Sulgaon, Bhatiyan Bujurg, Mardana, Nagawan, Arnlatha, and Sasabarud has been rendered annulled as the company defaulted in depositing mandatory Rs 305 crore for the purpose.”
Agarwal further said that land acquisition had started against rules on March 5, 2010. Under the agreement between the government and S Kumars, land acquisition could be carried out only after depositing money in advance. However, land acquisition began without depositing money in advance.
later, the process of land acquisition was moved under section 6 of the land Acquisition Act. Agrawal said that the process of land acquisition was annulled automatically if the mandatory amount was not deposited within two years after section 6 of the land Acquisition Act came into effect. This time lapsed on March 11, 2013. However, the company did not deposit the amount.
He said that the project cost Rs 3,300 crore but only Rs 2, 00 crore was spent on rehabilitation out of Rs 740 crore earmarked for the purpose. According to terms and conditions of the Environment Ministry and the Supreme Court's orders, total rehabilitation should have completed before dam construction. However, no money was provided for land acquisition and rehabilitation.
The NBA activist said that in light of the fact that the State Government has initiated the process of termination of the Power Purchase Agreement for the purchase of the extremely expensive Maheshwar power, and on the other hand the MP Power Management Company is seeking to cancel the R&R agreement because the actions of the company has resulted in cancellation of the acquisition of the houses of 70 per cent of the oustees and non-completion of over 85 per cent of the R&R works, the NBA demands that the project should be scrapped in public interest, and the status existing before the construction of the dam be restored.