The bench observed that despite the fact that compensation

to be given to the oustees of the project have been increased by almost four times, the NBA still wanted to stall it.

"You see, they (government) are giving you four times the compensation and you still want to stall it," it told Parikh.

"When we say this, you say that. When we say that, you say this. You will get what the law says. They are giving you much more. You argue your matter. We will hear it and decide the matter as per the law," the bench said.

The apex court further said, "You want to take the court for ransom. You want to take the government for ransom. You argue whatever you want, we will hear you and pass order." The bench observed that now there was a "lot of dispute" over the settlement even after the compensation amount has been hiked.

"You have got money but you continue to be the sufferers," the apex court observed.

During the hearing, Patkar told the bench that when the villages have been vacated, then villagers have to be given place to stand.

To this, the bench said, "They are giving money. They can take it and buy other land".

"It is up to you. Our job is to settle this issue in terms of the law. If law says you will remain there, we will say so," the court told NBA's counsel after which he started his arguments.

The issue of compensation will cover 193 villages in Madhya Pradesh, 33 in Maharashtra and 19 in Gujarat.

The bench had said that it will ask the state governments to deposit the money in the apex court registry after the committee decides the issue.

Earlier, NBA had told the apex court that 192 villages and one township would be affected in Madhya Pradesh alone and about 45,000 affected people are yet to be rehabilitated.

The Sardar Sarovar Project oustees, including thousands of Adivasis and farmers, have been waiting for land-based rehabilitation of many years, NBA had said.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)