November 26, 2001

        The issue related to compensation to all the displaced persons in lieu of acquisition of their land was considered by Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT). The Tribunal, in its Final Order of 1979, stipulated that "Every displaced family from whom more than 25% of its land holding is acquired shall be entitled to and be allotted irrigable land to the extent of land acquired from it subject to the prescribed ceiling in the State concerned and a minimum of 2 hectares (5acres) per family, the irrigation facilities being provided by the State in whose territory the allotted land is situated. This land shall be transferred to the oustee family if it agrees to take it. The price charged for it would be as mutually agreed between Gujarat and the concerned State. Of the price to be paid for the land a sum equal to 50% of the compensation to the oustee family for the land acquired from it will be set off as an initial instalment of payment. The balance cost of the allotted land shall be recovered from the allottee in 20 yearly instalments free of interest. Where land is allotted in Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra, all recoveries for the allotted land shall be credited to Gujarat."

        The Government of Gujarat have further liberalized the above compensation package. According to this, "The landed oustee/encroacher who have received compensation of land has an option to contribute 50% of his compensation as initial instalment towards the cost of allotted land rest of the amount of the cost of land to be repaid in 20 yearly interest free instalments. If the oustee contributes 100% compensation would be treated as ex-gratia."

        The Government of Maharashtra have also liberalised the compensation package and now the land is allotted to the oustee free of cost.

        All the oustees affected due to consturction of Sardar Sarovar Dam upto an elevation of 90 mtrs., so far, have been paid conpensation as per the libealised packages.

        Union Government does not share any cost of the SSP. The estimated amount and the amount spent on R&R so far, by the State Governments is given below:

        This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty in a written reply to a question fromShri Tarachand Bhagora in the Lok Sabha today.