Supreme Court directs Madhya Pradesh govt to settle legal disputes

The Supreme Court has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to expeditiously settle the legal disputes over execution of long pending projects involving several crore of rupees.

It also paved way for the hydro power project at Barwaha, Omkareshwar on Narmada river. In a 131-page verdict the court on Wednesday dealt with several issues including that it indicted the public spirited NGO Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) that ‘celebrated’ the fourth anniversary of stoppage of work at the 500MW project.

Disposing of a batch of appeals filed by the state, the hydro project authority and NBA, a bench of justices JM Panchal, Deepak Verma and BS Chauhan also held that acquisition   of land does not violate any constitutional or fundamental right of the displaced persons.  

However,   they   are   entitled   to resettlement   and   rehabilitation   as   per   the   policy   framed   for   the oustees of the concerned project, the top court added.