The Supreme Court, on Monday, declined Narmada Bachao Andolan's plea to stop the ongoing construction work to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam from the existing 110 metres to 121.92 m at this stage.

The order was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal.

It was subsequent to Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian's submission that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] has constituted a three-member committee to look into the relief and rehabilitation work for project-affected families in Madhya Pradesh. The committee is likely to submit its report by June, he added. 

The ASG said once the report of the group is available, the prime minister will be in a better position to take a decision on the matter.

"We hope and expect the prime minister will be able to take a decision on or before July 3 and it shall be placed on record," the bench said, while posting the matter for further hearing on July 7.

The court also expressed the hope that all the parties concerned would fully cooperate and not cause any obstruction in the work of survey teams constituted by the group.