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dam-l NBA PR: Start of Indefinite Hunger Strike by Narmada Dam-Affected
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Press Release
12 April 1999
Indefinite Fast by Narmada Dam Oustees Commences
Firm Resolve to Fight Till the End
After 5 days of dharna (sit - in) by hundreds of farmers, labourers,
tribals, kahars, kevats from the areas to be affected by the construction
of the large dams on the Narmada and her tributaries, as the state
Government of M.P. continues to maintain a stony silence on the long
standing demands of the people, the Narmada Bachao Andolan has began an
indefinite fast at the dharna site as Roshanpura Chowk in Bhopal. The
seven people who have decided to stake their lives for the fight against
destruction and for justice in the Valley by sitting on the indefinite
fast are : Gopibai Patidar of village Pathrad, , Reshambai Bharud and
Daulat Bharud of Village Behagoan, Sitabai of village Nagawa and Reshambai
of Bhatiyan, all from villages affected by the Maheshwar dam, Barsingh
Barela of Veda dam project affected area and senior activist of the Andolan
Chittaroopa Palit.
The tribals and farmers to be affected by the Maheshwar, Maan, Upper Veda,
Lower Goi, Bargi and Sardar Sarovar dams have been sitting in dharna in
Bhopal since the 7th April 1999 protesting against the large scale
uprootment of people and destruction of the environmental, social and
cultural fabric of the Narmada Valley due to the construction of the large
dam projects. The project affected people have been demanding a complete
review of the projects and implementation of the recommendations of the
Task Force set up by the State Government of M.P. itself last year.
It may be recollected that early last year, the Government of M.P. had set
up a Task Force consisting of senior officials, NBA representatives and
independent experts to critically examine the Narmada Valley Development
Project (NVDP) consisting of the 30 large dams, 135 medium dams and 3000
ìsmallî dams. The Task Force was to also give a framework of the possible
alternatives for the use of the water and energy resources of the Valley.
The Task Force submitted its main report in January 1999, and a separate
report on the Maheshwar Project earlier in November 1998. The Main report
indicates very serious problems with the rehabilitation of the likely
oustees, and says that a number of viable alternatives exist which need to
be explored. The report on Maheshwar Project had recommended a
re-examination of the cost benefit / viability of the project and to
proceed only if it was found viable. Even in such a case, the Task Force
had recommended that the feasibility of rehabilitation be completely
established before going ahead with the project.
In light of this, the affected people have been demanding that the work on
the Maheshwar Project be stopped immediately as also the completely illegal
direct purchase of submergence land that bypasses all requirements of
rehabilitation. They are also demanding that a full cost benefit analysis
be taken up immediately as recommended by the Task Force. Work should
proceed only if this finds the project viable, and the project authorities
are able to develop a rehabilitation master plan based on the policy of
land for land, land for ìlandlessî, rehabilitation of people with ìotherî
occupations - based on actual land availability and not hypothetical land
availability.
In case of the Sardar Sarovar Project, the Government of M.P. should accept
the reality that there is no land to resettle the affected people - either
in M.P. - as shown by the joint land surveys carried out by NBA and
Government representatives. The NBA has pointed out that 54% of the command
area of the Maan Project, 73% of that of Jobat project and a significant
portion of the Veda project are already irrigated. In such a situation,
the Maan and Jobat project, under construction since years, should be
canceled and the remaining portions of the command areas be provided with
alternative methods, as discussed in the Task Force. This is imperative as
the projects have not been able to carry out the proper resettlement of the
affected people and in this monsoon many families in Maan will face
submergence of their lands and houses without any resettlement. Large dams
such as Veda and Goi projects where construction has not yet began, should
be totally stopped and alternatives implemented.
The Andolan also demands that the construction on the Narmada Sagar dam -
the largest and one of the most destructive of the Narmada project, must be
immediately stopped. Similarly, the illegal distribution of cash
compensation in lieu of land-for-land in the area must also be stopped and
a compete review of the project undertaken.
Regarding the Bargi project, decisions of the Rehabilitation Committee
appointed by the State Government must be immediately implemented.
In July 1998, the provisions of the Rehabilitation policy made in the
framework of the Award of the Narmada Tribunal were diluted by the State
Government to facilitate cash compensation in lieu of land-for-land. These
dilutions must be canceled with immediate effect. All the projects must be
reviewed also in view of the serious seismic activity in the Narmada Valley.
Since the M.P. Government has not responded to these serious issues raised
by the Narmada Bachao Andolan including the implementation of the
Governmentís own Task Force recommendations, even after a series of
discussions, demonstrations in the Valley, the people were forced to come
to Bhopal and have been sitting on dharna since 7 April 1999. Even after
so many days, when the Government did not respond to the peopleís actions,
the people have no choice left now but to intensify their agitation and
hence the launch of this indefinite hunger fast.
Shripad Dharmadhikary,
Narmada Bachao Andolan