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dam-l LS: Bhopal Dharna Latest + Action Appeal from NBA



Appeal for Urgent Action -from NBA

Dear Friends,

You may be knowing about the ongoing dharna and fast in Bhopal against the
destructive big dams along the  Narmada river in general and Maheshwar
Hydel Project in particular. Surpassing the inhuman attempt by the state
government to lift the fasting activists, the peaceful fast enters 16th day
today, 27.4.1999.

It may be noted that on 22nd April,  the police and Bhopal district
administration tried to break the fast through an operation in which
several people were injured, arrested and hospitalised/jailed, including
women. But the powers that be couldnít break the fast which is still going
on even, with more and more people joining from the valley and outside. On
the 16th day of the fast, while the condition of two is deteriorating
steadily  and there is serious concern about  the health of the others, the
fasters themselves are fully determined to continue the struggle till the
end. The people of the Valley on the dharna too are determined in this.

The  dharna and fast in Bhopal has received extensive and spontaneous
support from many quarters, especially in M.P. where trade unions, peopleís
movements, artists, eminent people and ordinary citizens have demonstrated
their support by particiapting in the same. From other parets of the
country too, there has been extensive demoinstration of solidarity.

As a result, the Government has started some dialogue on trying to resolve
the issues, but is still not yeilding on some of the key points, especialy
reagrding the stoppage of work and full review of the economic
coast/benefit of the Maheshwar project, even though recommended by the Task
Force itself. Demands realting to the other dams Goi, Veda, Maan, and
possibly Narmada Sagar are likely to be accepted. But this depends upon the
solidarity and support that the agitation is seen to receive.

The need of the hour is to convey your  support to the struggle to
ShriDigvijay Singh by sending more and more telegrams / faxes / letters /
phone calls to him asking for complete stoppage of Maheshwar and other
projects, and implementation of the report of Task Force.

Here below is  the address and phone / fax numbers and a model letter to
Chief Minister  of Madhya Pradesh.  Please feel free to make correction,
addition  or subtraction in the letter.
_______________________________________
Address:
Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shyamala Hills, Bhopal.
Phone : 0755-540 500 /503/504
Fax : 0755 - 540 501
________________________________________
Model Letter:

To                                       27.4.1999

Shri.Digvijay Singh,
Honíble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh,
Bhopal

Sir,
Sub: Immediately stop construction of the destructive Maheshwar and other
large Dams and accept the demands of fasters.

We the undersigned appeal to the Government of the State of Madhya Pradesh
to accept the demands of the Narmada Bachao Andolan hunger strikers in
Bhopal and halt construction of the Maheshwar and other dams immediately,
and agree to implemetn the recommendations of the Task Force set up your
own Government.

The Maheshwar Dam would displace more than 20,000 farmers, wage labourers,
fishers and craftspeople and submerge some of the richest agricultural
lands in Madhya Pradesh. Independent investigations by the Tata Institute
of Social Sciences have found that resettlement planning for this project
is a shambles and that in effect no land is available to provide
land-for-land resettlement in accordance with the Narmada Tribunal Award
and the State Resettlement Policy for the Narmada Projects. The Task Force,
which the Government of Madhya Pradesh created to examine the project, also
came to the conclusion that ìadequate land area has not been identified to
enable allotment to all affected familiesî.

The cost-benefit analysis of the project was based on a systematic
underevaluation of the prosperous local economy and the rich resources it
depends upon. To carry on with the project would mean consciously driving
more than 20,000 people into destitution and impoverishment. Sacrificing
the lands and livelihoods of 61 villages cannot be reconciled with the goal
of achieving prosperity for the people of Madhya Pradesh.

In view of the ongoing hunger strike and dharna in Bhopal, we urgently call
upon the Government of Madhya Pradesh to implement the recommendations of
its own Task Force on the Narmada Valley projects. These recommendations
include a halt to construction on Maheshwar pending the completion of
comprehensive and participatory review of the costs and benefits of the
project and of the viability of alternative forms of water and energy
development.

We ask you to take action quickly, as the health and the lives of community
activists are in the balance as the fast enters on 16th day even after
inhuman  attempt by the state police to stop it.

Sincerely,

---------------------------------------Letter ends

In Solidarity,

Shripad Dharmadhkary & Sukumar
from Delhi.