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Tehri report delayed

THE COMMITTEE appointed by Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao to examine the viability of the Tehri hydroelectric project will not submit its report before mid-August. It was supposed to have the report ready by the end of June.

One of the experts explained, "We have been asked to give our opinion taking all aspects into consideration and we do not want to do a rush job of it. The time-frame indicated by the Prime Minister was only to convey the sense of urgency. He never said the deadline was sacrosanct."

The committee was set up soon after environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna went on a fast to stop work on the dam to ascertain whether the proposed dam would be strong enough to sustain an earthquake of a higher intensity than the one last year.

Sources say that the Prime Minister may also be seeking the opinion of other experts before he finally decides on the future of the dam. Interestingly, the committee members have been asked to not divulge their opinions to journalists.

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