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dam-l PR: YET ANOTHER EFFORT TO SUPPRESS TRUTH IN NARMADA PROJECT
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda Gujarat. ( Ph.0265-382232)
Delhi Contacts. Ph: 011-6426783, 2256394).
Press Note/ 11.4.99
MOVE TO SCUTTLE COMMITTEE FOR EXAMINING RESETTLEMENT
YET ANOTHER EFFORT TO SUPPRESS TRUTH IN NARMADA PROJECT
The reported move to scuttle the three member committee appointed by the
Union Social Justice Department, to reassess the Narmada project
resettlement situation, only shows the governmentís aversion to face the
reality. This has reinforced the apprehensions about the undemocratic and
fraudulent means the government has been using to suppress the truth and
the people. Even such a small gesture towards the oustees, otherwise of
little consequence, could not be tolerated by the dam proponents. After the
infamous mess about the public hearing of World Commission on Dams in
India, the Prime Minister was again compelled by the Gujarat government and
vested interests to toe their line unquestioningly, disregarding the
peopleís rights and norms of governance.
The reasons given for quashing this committee on behalf of the Prime
Minister are spurious and would create more confusion regarding the role of
the Union government and the matter in the Supreme Court. Firstly, the
committee was the Ministryís own committee, reporting to the Minister. The
Central government has the responsibility to have an independent assessment
of the claims made by the state governments. The committee is a body
within the ministry. The apprehension that such committee may create legal
confusion is misplaced.
The reference to P.D. Desai Committee as Grievance Redressal Committee is
also unwarranted. The Desai Committee is a body set up by the state
government, though endorsed by the apex court, and has a mandate only to
look into the condition of the oustees resettled and land available only
in Gujarat. It has to look into the post-facto grievances of the already
displaced people. However, there was a need go beyond this restricted
agenda and examine the claims of land availability in all the states and
the status of rehabilitation of the oustees resettled in Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra - the matters which the Desai Committee is not expected to look
into.
The committee was to make an assessment of the land availability for the
resettlement of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) oustees and the status of
those who have been resettled till now. This was important in the context
of the claims made by the governments in the court. It was pointed out by
the Narmada Bachao Andolan, through its surveys and land inspection by the
people accompanied by the officials, that the land claimed to be available
for resettlement was not available. Moreover, those who were displaced
hitherto could not be resettled fully and according to the norms set up by
the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT). Thus, despite tall claims, the
ground reality was different. The Andolan has challenged the governmentsí
claims through the ëManav Adhikar Yatraí ( Human Rights March).
The decision by the Prime Minister shows that the Government of India is
wary of knowing the truth about the resettlement and unwilling to fulfill
its responsibility. The state governments - Gujarat, Maharashtra and M.P.-
are interested parties and their claims must be assessed by the Center.
This would have, in fact, helped the Court proceedings. However, the
reported move has once again revealed the governmentís callous disregard
for the truth and rights of the tribals. This fear of being exposed was
also visible at the time of the proposed public hearing of World Commission
on Dams in Bhopal. At that time too, Gujarat government had acted in same
manner and pressurised the Center not to allow the Chairman of the
Commission and the etire WCD in India. In a similar way, this move too has
further damaged the image of the government in the context of the true
situation and protection of tribalsí rights.
The Andolan expects the Minister for Social Justice to stand by her
decision and resist unwarranted interference in the discharge of the duties
of the department. We also expect the Prime Minister to act more like a
statesman and not succumb to the pressure of party fiefs. NBA would
continue its effort to expose the government claims in and outside the court.
(Sanjay Sangvai)