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dam-l KEWA announces opposition to Gurez Dam

PRESS RELEASE:
1. Announcement of formation of Kashmir Environmental Watch
Association (KEWA)
2. KEWA announces opposition to Gurez Dam
************************************************************
1. Announcement:

Srinagar, April 7, 1998:  K.E.W.A. or the Kashmir Environmental Watch
Association is a non-political  Environmental organization dedicated
to the protection and preservation of the Himalayan region of the
formerly independent state of Jammu & Kashmir(generally referred to as
"Kashmir"), which is currently divided and disputed between India,
Pakistan, and China. Since 1989, a movement for re-unification and
independence has persisted with opposition from the administering
governments. The failure to resolve this conflict has resulted in the
outbreak of sustained armed conflict. This situation has created a
human rights disaster and at the same time the delicate environment of
one of the most beautiful and isolated regions of the Himalaya has
steadily deteriorated.

Observing the continuing destruction of the environment of Jammu &
Kashmir and believing that it is impossible to separate the
environment from human condition, K.E.W.A. came into being in hopes of
starting a trend towards serious and concerted efforts to protect
Jammu & Kashmir's environmental treasures. K.E.W.A. has been foundedby
a group of concerned Kashmiri environmentalists both in and outside of
Jammu & Kashmir and a detailed program has been drafted.

The mission of K.E.W.A. is primarily two-fold. First, to increase
awareness of the environment by serving as a watch organization over
the conditions of the environment of Jammu & Kashmir. Second, to take
action to preserve and protect the environment by working as a
catalyst for an indigenous environmental movement.

K.E.W.A. is dedicated to the preservation and protection of all
aspects of the environment of Jammu & Kashmir. In particular, K.E.W.A.
focuses on issues of:
     -deforestation
     -river preservation
     -endangered species protection
     -prevention of two large dam projects planned
      for Jammu & Kashmir
     -general preservation of the bio-diversity of
      Jammu & Kashmir.

K.E.W.A. is determined to work on these goals in both India and
Pakistan administered Jammu & Kashmir.

Preserving the traditional harmony in which the indigenous inhabitants
of the region have lived
with the environment for centuries is of particular interest to
K.E.W.A.

Some of K.E.W.A.'s intended actions to fulfill its goals include:

   -  environmental awareness of the inhabitants of
      Jammu & Kashmir

   -  encouraging the growth of an environmental
    movement in Jammu & Kashmir -  reporting on the
    environment of J&K to the international
    environmental community and concerned organizations

   -  advocating against any environmentally
     unfriendly policies or actions taken by any
     administering government or organization in Jammu
     & Kashmir

   - encouraging Eco-friendly business and
     agricultural methods by locals.

K.E.W.A. whole-heartedly believes that the preservation of the
environment is in the highest interests of the inhabitants of Jammu &
Kashmir and the world community at large. In fulfilling this
conviction KEWA has plans to institute a program which will mobilize
international environmental organizations and encourage local
environmental action to defend the precious environment of the
beautiful and currently disputed Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir.
KEWA is also very interested in working and cooperating with regional
environmentalists in South And Central Asia.

2. KEWA ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE GUREZ VALLEY FROM LARGE DAM
PROJECT

As one of its first undertakings, KEWA has initiated an international
and local campaign to save the Gurez Valley in Jammu & Kashmir. An
Indian-Swedish large dam project (103 meters, US$ 500 million, 330MW)
threatens to inundate the whole of the remote Gurez Valley thereby
destroying its Himalayan ecology consisting of old growth forests and
alpine fauna. Gurez is home to the endangered Snow Leopard and Hangul
Deer. The inhabitants of Gurez, the unique Dard Shin people (who speak
an unstudied language and have an ancient culture which evolved in the
Gurez Valley and even gained mention in the writings of Herodotus) are
threatened and will be forcibly displaced by the project. In total
25,000 people will be evicted from their homes in Gurez Valley to
urban concrete housing projects. KEWA believes the project to be an
impending environmental and cultural disaster.

KEWA is working closely with Dard Shin people to mount a regional
campaign in South Asia to convince the Indian government to cancel the
project. Because the Gurez Dam will be funded 85% by international
sources, KEWA is also trying to mobilize international environmental
groups to help campaign to prevent international funding of the dam
project which is being applied for by the Swedish contractor, Skanska
International, who will be constructing the dam.

For the latest information on the "Save the Gurez Valley" campaign
please visit the KEWA website at:

          www.geocities.com/~kewas

PLEASE BOOKMARK THE KEWA SITE AS IT WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY.

ENDS




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