A. K. PATNAIK, C.J. :- The petitioner, an organization working for the legal rights of oustee families affected by the large dams in the Narmada Valley, has filed this Public Interest Litigation for appropriate directions for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the oustee families of the Omkareshwar Project in the State of Madhya Pradesh.

Facts of the case

2. The background facts in short are that on 6th July, 1968, the State of Gujarat made a complaint to the Government of India under Section 3 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 stating that a water dispute has arisen between the States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra over the use, distribution and control of water of Narmada, an inter-State river. The Central Government constituted the 'Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal' (for short 'the NWDT) for adjudication of the water dispute, by notification dated 6th October, 1969 and made a reference of the water dispute to the NWDT. The NWDT made an award, called, the 'Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award' (for short 'the NWDT award'). The NWDT award inter alia apportioned the utilisable quantum of Narmada water between the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, R