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dam-l Victory At Maheshwar
Dear Friends,
The following is the update (a bit late - our apologies) on the victory
at MAheshwar.)
MAHESHWAR OCCUPATION ENDS AS GOVERNMENT AGREES TO ALL DEMANDS : WORK
STOPPED AND COMPLETE REVIEW ORDERED
The occupation of the Maheshwar dam site since January 11, 1998 and the
indefinite fast started there on 26 Jan. by six people came to an end
on the midnight of 30 Jan. as the Government accepted in toto all the
demands, ordering stoppage of work and a total review of the Maheshwar
Hydropower project. The announcement was made by the Deputy Chief
Minister of Madhya PRadesh state Shri Subhash Yadav, who personally came
to the dam site to make the announcement. Shri Yadav also holds the
charge of the Narmada Development Ministry.
On 30 Jan. evening, even as the news of imminent settlement spread in
the submergence villages, thousands of villagers started pouring in at
the occupation site. By midnight, the crowd had swelled to over 8000
from the 3000 or so who have been maintaining the indefinite occupation.
At midnight, Shri Yadav came to the dam site and made the announcement,
accompanied by written government orders. In the order dated 30 JAn.
1998 issued by the NArmada Development Department, the Government of MP
ordered the Energy Department to stop work on the construction of the
Maheshwar power house, dam, and the work of the land acquisition. The
orders also stated that a decision on resuming the works will be taken
only after the task force that is to review the project had submitted its
report. An accompanying order of the same department also directs the
Task Force (constituted earlier to discuss and prepare a framework of
alternative planning in the Narmada Valley) to review the Maheshwar
PRoject on a priority basis.
The Task FOrce had been constituted earlier following a two day seminar
organised by the Government of MP titled "NArmada Valley DEvelopment :
Review and Alternatives" in which representatives of the Government and
of the people affected by dams planned in the whole valley had
participated under the NBA banner along with independent experts. THe
seminar had discussed the severe social and environmental impacts, the
financial and economic, cost benefits aspects of the (proposed, ongoing
and completed ) 30 large, 135 medium and 3000 small dams in the NArmada
VAlley and the possible alternatives. The Task Force consists of senior
representatives of the Government, of the NBA and independent experts.
With this victory, the one year old struggle of the people of the
MAheshwar affected area has managed to bring the work on the project to a
grinding halt. The 20 day occupation and the five day fast has been
called off. All those on fast are recovering rapidly, including senior
NBA activist ALok Agarwaal whose health had deteriorated sharply.
It will be interesting to see how the foreign players in the project
will react to this, including Asea Brown Boeri and Siemens who are
supplying equipment to the project, and the Bayerische Vereinsbank which
is giving term loan to the project.
The NBA is now gearing up to the review process even as the affected
people are celebrating "NArmada Jayanti" (religious festival marking the
Narmada) today at the dam site by performing religious rituals and a
rally at the dam site.
Meanwhile people from all over India have hailed this victory which is
only the first milestone in the fight not only against the destructive
development symbolised by large dams, but which has also emerged a
important symbol of the struggle against th e privatisation and
globalisation of the power sector (and the economy). NBA has said that
this victory has been possible only because of the firm determination of
the people to fight, not hesitating even to sacrifice their lives if
needed, and the tremendous support they got from concerned people and
organisations from all over the country and the world.
Shripad Dharmadhikary, NBA
3 Feb. 1998
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