On May 14th 2003 the Gujarat government got the much-awaited nod from the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river to 100 metres from the existing 95 metres.

The decision permitting the five meters increase threatens tens of thousands of people with submergence in the monsoon, beginning in June and is in violation of Indian Supreme Court orders. Medha Pakter, The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader, lashed out against the decision saying it spelt "disaster, destruction and human tragedy" for thousands of tribals and villagers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra who would face temporary and permanent submergence this monsoon.

Official sources said that construction work to raise the dam height would commence tomorrow and take 45 days to increase the dam height by five metres.

See the following links for more detail or to keep up with developments:
 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/15/stories/2003051505080100.htm
 http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/05/15/stories/2003051505080100.htm
 http://www.zeenews.com/links/articles.asp?aid=98383&sid=TOP
 http://www.narmada.org/