The Narmada Control Authority (NCA) on Thursday gave permission to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam by 17 meters.
The NCA has reportedly issued orders to raise the height of the dam from 121 to 138 meters.
Earlier this week, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel faced her first challenge when a delegation of tribals, under the banner of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), met Nandurbar collector P Pradip, to demand a halt to the proposed plan to raise the height of the dam.
They said any such plan should only be considered after they were relocated and rehabilitated properly.
The tribal delegation has claimed that it has presented relevant data to establish the truth regarding displacement and environment.
According to NBA, there are about 250,000 people residing in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) submergence area in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
The NBA has reiterated that the tribals will not accept monetary compensation in lieu of land as it does not benefit them.
