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13 October 2010
Since 1987, the communities of farmers and Adivasis (indigenous
peoples) living on the banks of the Narmada River
have been fighting against the construction of a dam known as the Sardar
Sarovar Project (SSP). Criticisms on the Project have been raised, such as
environmental issues, livelihood of the residents, sustainability of the
community and procedures of consultation and construction. Currently, there are about 200,000 people
living in the area to be submerged by the SSP and the authorities who are
monitoring social and environmental measures have been reporting cases of
non-compliance.
The
communities affected by SSP have been striving for preservation of their
homeland. This year, the movement
against the dam projects in Narmada
Valley was awarded by
the Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT), which is a civil society group
made up of representatives from different sectors to investigate and
publicize the human rights violations.
The current member of IPT includes former Chief of Delhi High
Court, Justice A.P. Shah, Shri. Devindra Sharma, prominent agriculture policy
analyst and Prof. Jaya Sagade, Faculty at the Indian Law Society, Pune. On 2-3 June
2010, a panel from IPT visited various villages in the project-affected
areas. Documents have been submitted
to the panel for further investigation.
ACPP
has been following issues and movements related to Narmada
and SSP. For details, please refer to SUA020903(10),
SUA020605(8),
UA010404(5),
UA001031(15),
SUA000821(2)
and UA990827(14)
and their subsequent updates.
Source:
local source
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02
April 2008
The Madhya Pradesh High Court announced its
landmark judgment on 22 February 2008 to allot land to displaced peoples of
the Omkareshawar dam, one of the large dams being constructed in the Narmada Valley. The judgment also included the
following:
- that every farmer and his adult son (even if he is
not a land title-holder) must be provided with minimum of 5 acres of
irrigated land as per the rehabilitation and resettlement policies and
plan of the government;
- oustees who have previously accepted compensation
can still be eligible for land as it is their fundamental right, but
they have to return 50% of the compensation when they accept allotted
land and the rest in 20 installments; and
- the water level of 189 meters cannot be raised until
rehabilitation and allotment of land is completed for all oustees.
Grievances, such as non-inclusion of houses,
persons or denial of lands can be taken to the Grievance Redressal Authority
(GRA) by 31 May 2008, which will decide on them by 14 June. The GRA is
expected to file a report on the progress of rehabilitation and allotment of
land by 17 June, for the High Court to decide about permitting further
submergence of 25 villages.
The judgment was based upon a previous judgment of the Supreme Court in 2
other Narmada cases, where oustees have a
fundamental right to be better-off after displacement under Article 21 of the
Indian Constitution. The High court held that if the government has failed to
offer land as promised, it will be the court’s duty to enforce the
right to land.
It is also the constitutional obligation of the state government to provide
rehabilitation entitlements to the oustees, but since the dam was constructed
by the Narmada Hydro-Development Corporation (NHDC) which is a joint venture
of the state and central governments, the central government also has the
obligation.
The court also ruled that it is not possible for the state government to say
that there was no land available for allotment: since allotment of land to
private industries was possible for Special Economic Zone, it should also be
possible for the oustees to obtain lands. Government or private lands should
be arranged for all oustees.
Previously on 28 March 2007, the state government has permitted filling of
the reservoir even when none of the oustees were provided land according to
the basic feature of the rehabilitation policy of the project. To prevent a
large scale disaster that is expected to submerge thousands of families, the
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) approached the Madhya Predesh High Court on 30
March 2007 and obtained a stay on the reservoir filling. The Supreme Court
later permitted the filling up to 189 meters, but subject to the directives
of the High Court.
For more information about the struggle and protests of the people against
submergence at the Narmada Valley, as well as for proper rehabilitation plan,
please refer to SUA020903(10), SUA020605(8), UA010404(5), UA001031(15), SUA000821(2) and UA990827(14) and their subsequent updates.
Sources: People’s Watch, Narmada
Bachao Andolan
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22
October 2007
As per official estimate, there are more than
40,000 dam-affected families in 177 villages of Madhya Pradesh and 25
villages of Maharashtra, who have not yet
been rehabilitated and are still under threat of deadly submergence at the
present dam height level of 121.92 meters. In Maharashtra,
hundreds of families have been endlessly waiting to get their land
entitlements since 1994.
The Narmada Control Authority was scheduled to meet in early September to
review the status of rehabilitation and consider allowing the installation of
gates on the dam, which would lead to completion of the dam wall and
adversely affect the adivasis and farmers who have been struggling for the
past three decades.
In response, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has organized a public hearing
in the Sardar Sarovar-affected area from 31 August to 3 September, to provide
an opportunity for the people to express their thoughts and opinions. The
hearing included a visit to a resettlement site in Gujarat – a hilly
adivasi village which was submerged but people continue their fight in Maharashtra.
Hotline Asia has been following up on the issue and movements related to the
dams in Narmada
Valley, urging the
authorities to prevent submergence of villages, dialogue with the people on
rehabilitation, and release all detained activists. For more information,
please refer to SUA020903(10), SUA020605(8), UA010404(5), UA001031(15), SUA000821(2) and UA990827(14) and their subsequent updates.
Sources: NBA
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31
January 2007
The struggle on rehabilitation at the Narmada Valley has been on-going since 1988.
Since 1999 Hotline Asia has issued six Urgent Appeals SUA020903(10),
SUA020605(8), UA010404(5), UA001031(15), SUA000821(2)
and UA990827(14) to urge the halt of increasing dam height and to ensure
effective rehabilitation of people affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project.
With such unsettled rehabilitation issue, by early January 2007, it was
reported that the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project has been completed
after 20 years of construction and delay caused by protests by activists and
environmentalists since 1987. This dam is expected to provided power for 4
western states in India
and has began generating power by the end of January.
Sources: Narmada Bachao Andolan, RTHK online
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29
November 2006
Hotline Asia issued SUA020903(10) in September 2002 to call for a stop in further increase
in the height of Sardar Sarovar dam until all affected people are effectively
rehabilitated, in support of the on-going struggle in Narmada since 1980s.
In violation of its own judgment of October 2000 and March 2005 (that further
construction of dams cannot continue until rehabilitation of project-affected
families are completed), the Supreme Court, in its court order of 8 May 2006,
has allowed the construction of increased height of Sardar Sarovar dam, with
35,000 families facing displacement with no rehabilitation. The court has
recommended rehabilitation of the families within 3 months.
Earlier in mid-April, the government has suspended the Narmada Control
Authority’s decision to raise the dam height to 121.92 m, claiming that
the Gujarat government has no legal
authority to increase the height. This decision was made at the wake of
protests by activist, Medha Patkar, who refused to give up her hunger strike
until the project is put on hold. Immediately, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress
Committee appealed to the Prime Minister and Union government to let the work
continue, pointing out that the Central government was bowing to activists by
promising to stall the project against the spirit of the Supreme Court
judgment. The struggle continues.
Sources: Sify News, Friends of River Narmada
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30 November
2004
Water level reached the height of 117 m at the
Sardar Sarovar dam site this October and submerged hundreds of houses and
standing crops in Akrani and Akkalkuva talukas of Madhya Pradesh and also
Alirajpur taluka of Madhya Pradesh. About 1,000 families who are affected at
110 meters height are yet to get fair rehabilitation. In Maharashtra
hundreds of families are yet to be declared as "Project Affected"
and even those who have been declared have not been shifted to the
rehabilitation sites.
The monsoon this year has exposed the faulty planning and construction of the
Narmada main canal. It was breached and
broken resulting in submergence of nearby villages, causing destruction of
houses and standing crops worth millions of rupees. Nearly 50m of canal caved
in near Bhorda and Moti Uni villages due to pressure from flood water coming
from the cross cutting Heran River. On 10 August 2004 another breach occurred
in the Narmada Canal near Kadi, sending water into
ten villages (in Viramgam and holka Talukas, Ahmedabad district) and forcing
the evacuation of 2,000 people.
The first 6 villages which lost their land to the building of a colony for
workers in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) is on the verge of being evicted
again from their affected villages for a tourism project. The plan is to
develop 1,400 hectares of land with golf course, hotels and water park and
make it an location for recreational and leisure activities for tourists. The
above said 6 villages were given Rs. 50- 250 per acre in 1962 when the land
was forcibly acquired. The affected adivasis (tribals) are demanding the
status of projected-affected families to be compensated with land as per the
provisions of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award.
The struggle on rehabilitation at the Narmada Valley
has been on-going since 1988. Since 1999 Hotline Asia has issued six Urgent
Appeals SUA020903(10), SUA020605(8) , UA010404(5) , UA001031(15) , SUA000821(2) and UA990827(14) to urge the halt of
increasing dam height and to ensure effective rehabilitation of people
affected by the SSP.
Sources: Local Sources
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12
August 2004
On 14 July 2004 the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)
called off its two-day satyagraha (non- violent resistance) after the
Maharashtra Government promised to settle the rehabilitation problems of
families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) within a month.
A delegation of the NBA met the Rehabilitation
Minister, Patangrao Kadam, to find out why the Government did not previously
implement decisions of the State Cabinet with regards to rehabilitation. Mr.
Kadam told the delegation led by Medha Patkar of NBA that the State
Government would try to resolve the dispute within a month's time and allow a
fortnight for the NBA to verify this list. He also said the NBA would have
access to records at the district level for purposes of verification of
claims. The Divisional Commissioner of the area would have complete powers in
matters of taking decisions on rehabilitation issues instead of the
high-power committee that was constituted for this purpose. Mr. Kadam said
private land could be bought to resettle the affected families.
The struggle on rehabilitation at the Narmada Valley has been on-going since 1988.
Since 1999 Hotline Asia has issued six Urgent Appeals SUA020903(10), SUA020605(8) , UA010404(5) , UA001031(15) ,
SUA000821(2)
and UA990827(14) to urge the halt of increasing dam height and to ensure
effective rehabilitation of people affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam
project.
Sources: The Hindu, Narmada
Bachao Andolan, Hotline India- Mumbai
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31
May 2004
On 16 April 2004, the Supreme Court heard a
petition by families who were affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam. They live
in the affected area of dam height between 95m and 100m. They are still not
rehabilitated. The Court ruled that the all the concerned state governments
must comply with the provisions of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award
(NWDTA) and past Court rulings to provide full land-based rehabilitation to
all project-affected families. Any cash compensation in lieu of land-based
resettlement was unacceptable. However, the Court refused to restrict dam
construction up to 110m.
According to the source, in spite of such ruling, the slack rehabilitation
means that the situation is still not legal. According to the Supreme Court
judgment of 2000, "further raising of the height will be only pari passu
(moving at the same rate or apace) with the implementation of the relief and
rehabilitation."
The struggle on rehabilitation at the Narmada Valley
has been on-going since 1988. In September 2002, Hotline Asia issued SUA 020903(10) to urge the halt of increasing dam height and to ensure
effective rehabilitation of affected people by the Sardar Sarovar Dam
project.
Source: Namada Bachao Andolan
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01
April 2004
Angered and agitated after years of not
receiving legal and fair rehabilitation, adivasis affected by Sardar Sarovar
Project (SSP) in Gujarat began an indefinite
sit-in on Monday, 16 February 2004, outside the Sardar Sarovar Punarvasavat
Agency (SSPA) office in Kevadia Colony near the dam site. However, they were
quickly met with police repression, and over 150 people were arrested and
held in jail. Many activists were dragged and injured. Some people were
released in the evening, but most main activists are still detained.
In Gujarat, the rehabilitation of families
affected by SSP falls short of the legally mandated standards. The 19
affected villages by the SSP have been broken up and scattered across more
than 200 resettlement sites. Within these sites, a recent sample survey by
the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) revealed that the people displaced years ago
have yet to receive all their rehabilitation entitlements according to the
policy. These problems, have been communicated to the Grievance Redressal
Authority through thousands of individual petitions.
The project-affected adivasis of Gujarat are
demanding the Government that:
- all affected families be given adequate cultivable
land;
- all major sons and widows of landholders be declared
as project affected;
- people still living in the original villages also be
declared as Project-Affected Familes (PAF);
- all sites be provided with the required civic
amenities;
- all people be compensated for houses and trees lost
during land acquisition if not already paid;
- it re-survey land wherever there is a complaint
about its size;
- extra land acquired from six villages for the
Kevadia Colony be returned to the original villages, as per the
recommendations of the Minister for Social Justice, India;
- it implements the Governments Resolution that a half
hectare of land be given to every canal affected family;
- there should be no eviction from the
sanctuary-affected villages;
- it grants land rights to forest cultivators in the
sanctuary prior to 1993 (the cut off date lately declared by the Union
of India);
- canal and colony affected people be justly
compensated;
- it accepts there are PAFs at levels 80-110 m (height
of dams built) yet to be rehabilitated;
- it complies with Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal
Award (NWDTA), Supreme Court Decision, and State policies for
rehabilitation of all SSP-affected people.
The SSP-affected adivasis of Gujarat
are demanding that the Government meet the above conditions, and commit to
the fair and legal rehabilitation of those affected. They claimed that no
amount of state repression will deter them from fighting for these basic
human and legal rights. For more information please refer to SUA020903(10),
UA001031(15)
and http://www.narmada.org/nba-press-releases/february-2004/kevadia.
html
Source: local sources; NARMADA
BACHAO ANDOLAN
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29
May 2003
Increase in Dam Height Approved but Resettlement Ignored
In spite of the satyagrahis' (activists) protest
against raising the height of the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP)
in Narmada Valley since last year, the Narmada
Control Authority, an Indian inter-state committee, has given the clearance to
increase the height of the dam from 95m to 100m on 14 May 2003. This approval
enlarges the area and habitations that will be submerged during the monsoon
season. This permission follows a similar one that the Gujarat
government was allowed to raise the height from 90m to 95m before the
assembly election last year (May 2002). Those who opposed the decision argued
it would result in disaster, destruction and human tragedy.
According to the 2000 Supreme Court Order that
upheld the Narmada Tribunal Award, those displaced by the project must be
resettled and rehabilitated land-for-land six months before the raising of
the height of the dam and provided with land compensation. The work has
already started, and prerequisite has been ignored.
It has been reported that none of the states
have resettled the affected people. More than 3000 tribal families in Maharashtra and at least over 5000 more families in
Madhya Pradesh will need to be resettled due to the 100m high dam (excluding
3m of humps). This 103m height is expected to engulf all of the 33 tribal
villages in Maharashtra, and large and well
settled villages in the plains of Nimad, such as Nisarpur, Bhavanriya,
Chikhalda, Chhota Badada. There is simply no cultivable land available to
resettle them. The Madhya Pradesh government is reportedly resorting to the
illegal means of forcibly disbursing cash compensation to the displaced
people - a violation of the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) and Supreme
Court order. There appears to be no plan at all for the people's
resettlement.
The struggle for compensation has led to many
protests and conflicts in recent years. Another issue is an urgent need to
revise the estimates and lists of the project-affected persons (PAPs), as
many families have been left out. Although protesters who were arrested for
their sit in protests were eventually released, according to Narmada Bachao
Andolan (NBA) these arrests and harassment continues for the people who
struggle for their basic rights of a home, livelihood and proper rehabilitation
due to the SSP.
The NBA and other organizations had a meeting
with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Shinde, on April 29 and again on
May 8, where he announced that Maharashtra
would not allow an increase in the height of the dam, until the people below
that height are resettled. He had agreed that the people would be shown land
and would be fully rehabilitated before any increase in the dam height.
However, without doing all this, the state has allowed flooding of the lands
and houses, bringing further destruction, beyond last years' submergence.
Please refer to SUA 020903(10) and related UAs and updates for further information.
Source: The Hindu, Narmada
Bachao Andolan, Holine India-Mumbai, Documentation, Research and Training
Centre
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31
March 2002
Struggle for compensation continues in Narmada
More than 150 adivasis (tribals) from the
villages affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) in the Narmada, began an indefinite sit-in protest on 21
February 2003. In the morning the adivasis marched through the town's streets
to the office of the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) demanding
details for their resettlement. They took possession of the office and refused
to leave unless the local administration and the NVDA officials began a
proper dialogue with them.
Tired of the poor response of the
administration, the adivasis decided to take the challenge to the Government.
Through the day the adivasis shouted slogans and sang songs while senior
adivasi activists warned the officials that they would not leave without the
following demands being fulfilled:
- Joint verification of claims, especially for the
hundreds of adivasis who have allegedly been omitted from the official
list of affected persons due to the negligence of the officials.
- Update land records immediately (existing land
records reflect a situation of occupancy existing 2 generations ago!)
- Cancel the Government policy of allotting lands
without them having been seen or agreed to, and to offer cultivable
agricultural land instead.
A year and a half ago the Chief Minister
promised to conduct camps in each village to rectify all records. However
this has not happened despite repeated reminders. Hence the adivasis have
decided that they cannot wait any longer and will struggle until these issues
are resolved in a participatory and amicable manner.
Hotline has issued several Urgent Appeals on
this issue since 1988:
SUA020903(10) , SUA020605(8) , UA010404(5) , UA001031(15) ,
SUA000821(2)
and UA990827(14).
Many protests and attempts at negotiation with the government have been made
resulting in many promises which have not been fulfilled.
Please continue to write to the authorities to
express concerns this issue, especially the adivasis' struggle for survival
and compensation, and proper attention and implementation of their demands.
For more background information, please refer to the UAs mentioned above, or go
to the existing campaigns that can be found at www.irn.org (International
Rivers Network) and www.narmada.org (Friends of Narmada) web sites. Please
refer to our future updates or web site in case further action is needed
Source: Holine India-Mumbai, Documentation,
Research and Training Centre
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24
October 2002
Struggle to Land and Livelihood Rights Continue
To assert their right over the land and fight
for proper rehabilitation, thousands of tribals from villages in banks of Narmada, affected by the infamous Sardar Sarovar
Project (SSP) undertook a four-day foot-march from 13 - 17 September 2002.
Meetings and rallies also took place in major villages in the area where the
march passed. Talks were also held with the Conservator and Deputy
Conservator of Forests. The Narmada
delegation focused on the legal violations due to the recent orders of the
forest department regarding the eviction of tribals from the forest land and
about the environmental impact of evicted encroachers moving into newer
forests land for survival. An open letter was also faxed to the chief
minister of Maharashtra, and a statement was
issued condemning the violation of the Supreme Court order.
Villages of adivasis who have been cultivating
on forest lands for many generations are going to be submerged due to the
SSP. Their present land is being usurped by the forest department for
compensatory afforestation related to SSP. The Maharashtra
government conceded the demands of the people and had appointed a committee
to look into the claims of forest land encroachers.
At the conclusion of the march, on 17 September,
the Conservator of Forests ordered an immediate stop to all removal of crops
of the 'encroached' lands. A few positive plans were also discussed;
thereafter a few villages would be selected for a joint planning regarding
land, water and forest with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and the
government officials. However, much remains to be done to stop state
repression and eviction. There is a need to stop the eviction and
encroachment by the state of the people's lands, forests and rivers, which
affects their lives and livelihood. According to the source, an alternative
plan would require the recognition of the people's rights, the choice of appropriate
technology and democratic processes to use the natural resources in an
optimal and sustainable way.
The submergence of villages and rehabilitation
in the Narmada Valley has been a long-standing issue.
Since the start of the Narmada project,
there have been conflicts among the villagers and adivasis, whose villages
have been submerged, especially during the monsoon season. Many are still not
rehabilitated (a requirement by the related authorities before clearance was
given to increase the height of the dam) and being forcibly evicted against
court orders. Recently, in spite of the heavy submergence of villages, the
governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra have
allegedly agreed to increase the height of the dam by October 2002 without
mention of rehabilitation. The struggle to land and livelihood rights
continue.
Source: Documentation, Research and Training
Centre
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2
August 2002
Man Dam-Affected People on Hunger Strike
In May 2002, the people affected by the Man (or
Maan) Dam engaged in a sit-in for 35 days and an indefinite hunger stike
which lasted for 29 days, until 19 June 2002, when the Government of Madhya
Pradesh asked the Grievance Redressal Authority (GRA) for the Narmada
Projects to ensure the full resettlement of the Man oustees by 31 July 2002.
For 4 days in the first week of July, and later, from 12 to 18th July 2002,
the nominated authority and expert committee visited the affected areas .
They met the people, heard and recorded grievances of individual oustees at
the rest house at the dam site. The oustees told them how attempts were being
made to forcibly evict them. They urged the experts that their resettlement
should be carried out as per the policy, on a priority basis and until then,
the sluice gates should be opened and the submergence of the area prevented.
However, the government started forcible
evictions of the people using a massive police force without even waiting for
the work of the GRA to be completed or carrying out the resettlement as per
their recommendations. On 20 July 2002, with light rains raising the fear of
submergence, about 400 police entered the village Khedi-Balwadi, and without
giving any notice, started beating the people, including women and children,
dragging them to awaiting vehicles. The police looted the valuables of the
people, and then dumped remaining possessions at the "resettlement
sites" of Kesur and Amkheda, about 75 and 45 kms away respectively.
The oustees managed to escape from these sites
and reached Indore
where over 200 people started a sit-in on 25 July to protest against the
unleashing of state repression on them, demanding full and proper
resettlement. The people have also written letters to the State Governor, the
Chief Minister and the GRA giving the details of the repression and their
demands. They are demanding that until they are fully and properly resettled,
their village, fields and homes should not be submerged. They should be taken
back to their original villages with their possessions, and the resettlement
should be carried out as per the policy with land for land.
Please keep posted in case further action is
needed.
Source: Narmada Bachao Andolan
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21
June 2002
Expert Advisors Appointed in GRA to Ensure Rehabilitation
The South Asia Campaign of the International Rivers
Network (IRN) sent a message on 21 June 2002 to express its gratitute for all
the supports given to the month long protest against the Man Dam.
Since 15 May 2002, over 150 adivasis have
started a sit-in protest to demand a stop to the construction of the Man
Project and other dam-related activities until the 1000 adivasi families are
given adequate agricultural land and until rehabilitation is satisfactorily
completed. On 21 May, 4 activists started an indefinite hunger strike.
In the message, update was given that, on 18
June 2002, the fast was called off after the government of Madhya Pradesh
asked Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chairman, Grievance Redressal Authority of the
Narmada Valley Development Authority to look into the rehabilitation of the
Man dam oustees.
The inquiry will be conducted under advice from
Dr. B.D.Sharma former Commissioner of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
and journalist Prabhas Joshi. Rehabilitation of oustees is to be completed by
July 31st, 2002.
The locals request you to remain vigilant till
the government makes good its promise of satisfactory rehabilitation in the
Man affected areas.
More details on the update from Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA):
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Press note
Bhopal:
18 June 2002
Expert Advisors Appointed in GRA to
Ensure Rehabilitation of Maan Dam Oustees:
Guarantee Complete Rehabilitation by July 31st:
Indefinite Fast and Dharna Withdrawn
Today, on the 29th day, the indefinite fast by
Chittaroopa Palit, Ramkuvar, Vinod Patwa and Mangat Varma was called off,
as the government has asked Mr.Ravindra Sharma, Chairman Grievance
Redressal Authority (GRA) of Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) to
look into the rehabilitation of the oustees of Maan dam, under the special
advice of former Commissioner of SC/ST Commission, Dr.B.D.Sharma and
veteran journalist Shri.Prabhas Joshi.
The GRA will ensure that the rehabilitation of
the Maan dam oustees is completed in a time-bound manner, not later than
July 31st, 2002.
Thus, people from different villages affected
by Maan dam, supported by the oustees of other dams in the Narmada valley
like Maheshwar, Bargi, Veda and Sardar Sarovar, have returned back home on
a note of success. The indefinite fast of 29 days and the dharna (sit-in)
for 35 days witnessed many a hope and disappointment. One mutually
agreeable solution or the other was over and again turned down by the
politician-bureaucratic lobby, for whom the rightful rehabilitation of the
dam oustees will make a 'precedence' of justice in other dams. Ultimately
it was the victory of perseverance and determination of the people on fast
and on dharna.
The fasting activists had to go underground
because of the police high handedness on June 12th. Inspite of intense
combing of police, they were unable to trace them and they continued with
fast till the end. At the time of withdrawal of fast, Ramkuvar, the 22 year
old tribal girl from the first submergence village, Khedi, was at her
lowest ebb. She hardly can talk and her organs are showing signs of damage.
Chittaroopa Palit continues to have pain in the abdomen. Vinod Patwa and
Mangat Verma have continuous omitting and dizziness. Inspite of the danger
of permanent damage to their vital organs, or even life, the satya-agrahis
(who are insistent on truth - & non-violence) stood by their resolve of
putting their own lives at stake to assert the rights of the people and
justice.
At the time of calling off the fast, senior
activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan Ms.Medha Patkar and noted writer
Ms.Arudhati Roy were present.
Different organisations from Bhopal as well as different parts of the
country and abroad expressed precious support and solidarity with the
ongoing agitation. While many organised programs - like rally, dharna and
fast (supporters in US and UK
are still continuing with their relay fast) - some have come down to Bhopal and joined the
agitation here. We feel obliged to all of them who have bore the heat of
the agitation here and who have been a part of this, since years, and taken
up the agitations in their own forums. NBA feels confident that with the
support and participation of all like-minded citizens and organisations of India and
abroad, we will save the valley from irreversible damage and destitution.
Narmada Bachao Andolan demands that the water
should not be filled till the committee ensures complete rehabilitation.
NBA, while extending all co-operation to the committee, will face the
submergence, in case the water inundate the houses and fields of hundreds
of Maan affected families before proper rehabilitation, according to the
rehabilitation policy.
NBA also reiterates that in other dams like
Sardar Sarovar, where over 7000 families are left without rehabilitation,
and who are under the threat of submergence this coming monsoon, people
will face the rising waters and will challenge the injustice of the State.
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10
November 2000
Protect Rights of Tribals on Narmada
It was reported from Mumbai, India that the
Narmada valley tribals affected by the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP)
met the Governor of Maharashtra on November 9 and appealed him to safeguard
their right to life and resources from the unjust submergence and
displacement using his Constitutional prerogative, under Schedule 5 of the
Constitution. The people also have demanded that the Maharashtra government
must stand by the rights of its people and interests of the state rather than
blindly supporting the Gujarat government in
the matter of SSP. The Governor has assured the delegation that he will look
into the issues earnestly.
About 700 representatives of the affected
villagers on the banks of Narmada have arrived in Mumbai on November 9 as a
part of their Long March "Call to Justice", towards Delhi to appeal to the
conscience of the nation regarding the injustice and suppression of their
fundamental rights.
The Long March by the people is aiming to expose
the legal, Constitutional and social shortcomings inherent in the recent
majority judgment on Narmada issue by the Supreme Court and a call for
transforming judiciary to be more truthful, committed to the Constitutional
value of protecting the rights of the depressed classes and accountable. The
March aims to reassert the people's rights as against the rights of the
corporate interests and powerholders.
There will also be a public hearing in Delhi on the Narmada
issue in on November 14, organized by the Indian People's Tribunal, Mumbai,
in which a group of eminent people from different walks of life will form the
jury. The Long March will also appeal to the President to use his powers to
stop further devastation of tribals, in particular and the Valley and
destitution of the people, in general.
Source of News: Press Release from Narmada
Bachao Andolan
To read the full text, please visit:
www.narmada.org/nba-press-releases/november-2000/long.march.reaches.mumbai.html
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23
October 2000
Construction Resume for Sardar Sarovar Dam
On 21 August 2000, a Special Urgent Appeal (SUA)
on Narmada was issued through our e-mail
network. The purpose was to follow-up the issue first raised by Hotline in
1988 and to make known the voice of the Narmada Banchao Andolan (Save the
Narmada Movement), a non-governmental organisation that has been campaigning
to stop the dam for several years.
Six years ago the 'Save the Narmada Movement'
filed a petition against the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River
in Gujarat State. As a result, most of the work
on the project had been suspended since 1994.
Regrettably, on 18 October 2000, the Supreme
Court of India ruled that the long-stalled construction could resume on
October 31. In its ruling, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the side of
the proponents of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, saying that such projects had 'made
India
more than self-sufficient in food. Famines which used to occur have now
become a thing of the past.'
The height of the dam could be raised in phases
from 89 meters to as high as 138 meters with each major step in the process
requiring the approval of forestry and environmental officials. The judges
ordered the governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
states - beneficiaries of the dam project - to care for those displaced by
the rising waters. Any disputes over treatment of the displaced that cannot
be resolved by dam authorities are to be referred to the prime minister,
whose decisions will be final, the judges ruled.
For more information please visit www.irn.org and www.narmada.org Hotline will let you know if there is a need for further
solidarity action on this case.
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