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dam-l Update on Maheshwar 30 April 1998
Dear Friends,
This is a brief update on the events at the Maheshwar struggle.
Update From Maheshwar 30 April 1998
After the two days of continuous occupation of the dam site on 22 and 23
April, which was treated by severe repression by the state, the struggle
has taken a pause for tactical reasons.
Now, for the next few days, the struggle will focus on forcefully
raising the issue at the state, national and international level before
re-launching the occupation.
This is being done to consolidate the gains of the two days of action
into rasing the issue at the national and international levels. A
number of teams are coming into the area to examine the situation. Apart
from citizens team from Bhopal which already visited the area and a
team from Indore due tomorrow, the National Women's Commission also
made a visit to the area on 25th April. This is significant in the light
of the fact that women have been made the target of the physical as
well as verbal abuse by the police. A team from the National Alliance of
People's Movement is also expected to visit soon.
Meanwhile, all those arrested have been set free without any conditions
on 25th itself. Initially, the police was asking them to furnish a
personal bond stating that they would not go to the dam site for next six
months, which the people had refused to accept. Ultimately, however, the
police had to relent against the determination of the people and everyone
was let off unconditionally. As the people were released from various
jails, (four in four towns), the jubilant people took out rallies
in the towns shouting slogans, celebrating the unconditional release and
expressing determination to continue the struggle.
A film crew from an NGO - "Abhivyakti" - specializing in making films on
movements were filming the events on 22 April, and they too had also
been beaten and arrested. While they have been released, their VDO
camera, containing the record of the events on that day, still lies in
police custody.
Interestingly, it is the peak marriage season in the area, and almost
every family has a marriage in the house - yet people were determined
to stay in the jail and miss the marriages if required. Two women -
brides to be - were released just one day before they were to get
married.
On these two days of action, people have faced severe repression, brutal
beatings, physical and verbal abuse much of it sexually explicit verbal
abuse directed at women. In spite of this, the morale of the people is
very high and people are raring to go back to the dam site. Before
re-launching of the struggle, however, the Andolan is planning the
following actions :
1. Recording the statements of those injured in the police beatings and
filing complaints against the police based on this. ALready, about 50
statements have been recorded and and signed and filed with the police
2. Series of meetings in all the villages in the submergence area.
These are to be over by 5th May.
3. A public rally around the submergence area where the major
market towns are located. This, combined with other meetings are
intended to consolidate the public support in the neighboring areas.
This will be undertaken on 5-6 May, with a two day circumlocution of
the submergence are with vehicle including about 50-100 tractors.
4. Series of public meetings, press conferences in the major cities of
Madhya Pradesh and India.
5. A public debate on the Maheshwar project. (Tentative)
6. Issuing of a support statement signed by hundreds of national and
international groups.
After this series of actions, the people will re-launch the major
actions - this time without any warning or indication of the date or
time. However, it will be anytime after the 10th of May. We will inform
you in advance of course.
For the struggle to be successful, it is imperative that there is
support from all over for the same. We call upon you to urgently do the
following :
1. Write to the MP Chief Minister calling upon him to stop work at the
project, withdraw the police, and immediately resume the review work
through the task force. Digvijay Singh, Chief Minster, Vallabh Bhavan,
Bhopal. Fax 91-755-540 501.
2. Issue statement of support to the struggle signed by organisations,
eminent people. Issue these to the press and send a copy to us.
3. Stage demonstrations, pickets in front of S.Kumars showrooms and
offices in protest.
4. Most important, please visit the valley and the people to take
part in the struggle. This is most important as we feel that your direct
presence, during the preparations, during the meetings in the villages,
and during the actual struggle will be the biggest source of support to
the struggle. You can come any day from now.
Shripad Dharmadhikary
Narmada Bachao Andolan.
______________________________
To reach Maheshwar : Maheshwar dam is coming up on the Narmada at
village Jalood which is three kms. from Mandeleshwar, the taluka HQ.
Mandleshwar is about 22 Kms off Dhamnod on the Mumbai-Agra National
highway. Nearest stations are Indore or Khandwa. From Indore, direct
buses to Mandeleshwar are available. Else, take a bus to Dhamnod (two and
half hours towards Mumbai on the highway) and from Dhamnod, change
buses for Mandeleshwar. Maheshwar town is about 16 kms, and then
Mandeleshwar another 6 kms further on. (Even though the dam is called
Maheshwar, it is located near Mandeleshwar!). At Mandleshwar, the NBA
office is at the bus stand itself, in front of the police station.
COntact phone numbers are 63297 (Mahadevbhai - in Mandeleshwar town
itself) or 64224 (Rameshbhai - in village Sulgaon nearby). (Code for
both is 07283).If reaching from Khandwa, you will have to come via
Badwah-Sanawad directly to Mandleshwar. It will be useful if you can
inform about your visit in advance to NBA's Baroda office (0265-38 22
32) or Badwani (07290-22464).