Pune, April 17: Vanrai founder Mohan Dharia has backed the Narmada Bachao Andolan, supporting the construction of small bunds at the village-level instead of large dam projects.

He said that rehabilitation should remain the priority whenever any development project was taken up. He did not deny the role played by large dams in generation of hydro-electricity. However, it should not be at the cost of the people who would be affected in the process. Those people should be given proper rehabilitation, he stressed.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Dharia said that the Confederation of Non Governmental Organisations of Rural India was organising its first convention at New Delhi from Monday to Wednesday. The convention was to be inaugurated by Union Minister Subodhkant Sahay while at the valedictory function, External Affairs Minister Shivraj Patil would be present.

He said that the convention would focus on increasing the goodwill and unity amongst NGOs. Around 12,100 NGOs will come together for the convention.