A Mumbai City Civil Court dismissed a defamation suit filed by S Kumars group company, Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corp Ltd (SMHPC) against the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). In 2001, SMHPC had filed the suit against NBA seeking to restrain the movement from making public statements on its hydel power project in Madhya Pradesh.

According to a press note issued by the NBA, after hearing the defamation suit which has been going on for the last eight years, the Mumbai City Civil Court passed its final order and judgment on 17 February 2010.

“The Court found that the plaintiffs SMHPC had withdrawn whatever evidence had been submitted by them by way of affidavit and documents, by tendering a withdrawal application and had also at the last minute, withdrawn their witness SR Ganguli from being cross-examined,” the release said.

According to media reports last month, the environment ministry has issued a show-cause notice to the company building the Maheshwar Dam in the Narmada Valley after hundreds of affected people marched to the ministry demanding rehabilitation.

 
The Maheshwar Dam will submerge the lands and homes of 50,000 to 70,000 peasants, fishermen and landless workers in 61 villages, the NBA said.