Sardar Sarovar project: MP seeks justice Jha panel’s probe report

The Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday sought a copy of the final report of the justice SS Jha Commission that probed the alleged fake land registries and other issues related to the oustees of the Sardar Sarovar dam project.

Justice SS Jha Commission was set up by the high court on August 21, 2008 to probe the allegations of over 3,000 fake land sale registries, corruption in rehabilitation sites, issuance of livelihood grants, allotment of plots for construction of houses related to oustees of the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project in Alirajpur, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts.

The Commission submitted its final report in a sealed cover to the high court.

The state government and the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) filed a joint application asking that the high court should send a copy of the final report of the Commission to the Madhya Pradesh government which would examine it and table it in the legislative assembly.

Senior advocate RN Singh, appearing for the government, argued that the copy of final report must be given to the state government so that it can examine and table it in the legislative assembly.

The state government issued gazette notification on October 8, 2008 in compliance of the high court order under provisions of the Commission of Inquiry Act therefore the sealed copy of the same be given to the state, the senior counsel said.

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar opposed the government’s application on the ground that the one member commission was set up by the high court and not by the state government so there was no reason to table the commission’s final report before the legislative assembly.

Patkar said the NBA wants the authorities involved in the fake registry cases to be punished.

The NBA also sought a copy of report as it is a petitioner and seek some time to file a reply to the government’s application.