[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
dam-l PR: Intellectuals, Artists Demand Stoppage of Narmada Dam
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park,
Baroda-390007 ( Ph. 0265-382232)
Press Release/ July 23, 1999
RENOWNED ACADEMICIANS, ARTISTS DEMAND STOPPAGE OF NARMADA DAM:
SATYAGRAHA COMPLETES A MONTH : SUBMERGENCE THREAT PERSISTS
Noted economist K.N. Raj, noted environmentalist and Parliamentarian
K.V. Surendranath, renowned architect Laury Baker, literary stalwarts
like O.V. Vijayan, Aiyapa Panikar, Sugathakumari have asked the
President to intervene to stop any further construction on the Sardar
Sarovar Project in the Narmada valley.
These prominent persons in the Malayalam cultural and academic field have
protested against the unjust submergence and displacement of the
tribals and peasants due to the increased height of 88 meters of the
dam. In a joint letter, they appealed to the President to fulfil his
Constitutional obligation as the custodian of the tribals and stop the
violation of their rights in the name of development. The other
signatories include V.K.Madhavan Kutty (Journalist) A.P.Udayabhanu
(Gandhian) Hradaydayakumari (writer and professor), O.N.V. Kurup (Poet),
Guptan Nair, Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri(Poet), Dr. Saradhamani
(Economist).
Meanwhile, the level of the backwater, which rose alarmingly this week,
is still fluctuating. The danger level of 95-96 meters at Hafeshwar -
near the Satyagraha and submergence villages - continued on Monday
(July 23). The satyagrahis including Medha Patkar, Sitarambhai, Bawa
Muhariya and other villagers are firm on there resolve to face the water
of submergence. The backwaters of the dam was hardly ten feet away from
the Satyagraha place. The satyagrahis have reiterated their resolve not
to move out and confront the subemrgence even at the cost of their
lives. The increased water has partially submerged fields in Paula,
Pipalchop, Bharad, Domkhedi, Nimgavhan, and Jalsindhi with crops
of Jowar, pulses, maize, vegetables
A Month of Satyagraha
The Satyagraha in Domkhedi and Jalsindhi has completed one month. The
Satyagraha was launched on June 20 by the senior Gandhian thinker,
Siddharaj Dhadda, with a call for the decentralisation of the decision
making processes. Over 50 youth from different parts of India
participated in the youth camp, where they learnt house building
skills from the adivasi experts. They held meetings and discussions with
the villagers. During the 'Jeevan Yatra' (March for Life) from 27th June
to 4th July a series of village meetings were held in Akrani and Akkalkua
tehsils
[sub-districts] in Maharashtra and Alirajpore tehsil in M.P.
On July 4, nine activists including Bawa Muhariya, Pankiya Vasave,
Ranjit Vasave, Gulab Bhai Awasiya, Medha Patkar, Sitarambhai Patidar,
Tarabai Patidar, Philip Matthew, began a fast. Medha and Sitarambhai
also observed moun ( silence) during that period. The fast was
terminated on July 11. During all these days, the people in Jalsindhi
and Domkhedi took out marches on the government and police camps,
and confronted the officials there. The satyagrahis at Jalsindhi discovered
that the state government has issued submergence notices to their
villages on June 27, during the monsoon when there would be submergence at
any time. Even after protesting and confronting the sub-divisional
magistrate they could not get satisfactory answers to their basic
questions. The government list did not contain the name of
Luvaruyabhai, the first family which is going to face the submergence. The
villagers in Domkhedi and Nimgavhan questioned the government officials
about the issue of refusing admission into higher grades of the students of the
NBA's 'Jeevan Shala' (School of Life).
Increasing Support
Hundreds of activists from all over India and prominent social activists
have participated in the satyagraha. National Fishworkers' Forum (Kerala),
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan( Rajasthan), Students Christian Movement,
Samvada( Bangalore), Pennurmai Iyakkam, Centre for Social Studies
(both from Madurai, T.N.), Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Hind Mazdoor Sabha,
Girni Kamgar Sangharsha Samiti, Nari Samata Manch, students of Tata
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS, Mumbai), Hawkers Sangharsha Samiti,
Shramik Parishad and various organisations aligned with National
Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), from Bengal and Maharahstra, the
anti-dam struggle against Gosi Khurd dam in Mahartahstra and scores of
others participated. The participation is increasing. People from Nimad
(Madhya Pradesh) villages have been participating as well as the villagers in
Maharashtra, Gujarat and people from the resettlement sites in Maharashtra
and Gujarat have been a part of Satyagraha.
On 11th July, Medha Patkar announced that if the work on the dam is
allowed to go above 88 meters without deciding on a comprehensive review
of the dam by appointing a new tribunal and with
a public hearing, and without the full resettlement of those who have
already been displaced including the oustees of canal, colonies and
sanctuary, she and others of Samrpit Dal (Dedicated Squad) would commit
Jal Samarpan (Sacrifice in the Water).
On July 12, hundreds of people all over India observed a day's fast and
various protest programmes. Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Calcutta,
Thiruananthpuram, Bangalore, Madurai, Varanasi, Badwani, Dhulia,
Nandurbar, Shirpur, Shndakheda, Pune and elsewhere these solidarity
programmes took place. In U.S. too, the youths in Maryland University
held a candle light vigil in support of the Naramda struggle.
On 19th July also number of solidarity programmes were held in Madurai,
Bangalore and elsewhere.
Thus, with the swirling waters the support of the people from all over
India and the determination of the Satyagrahis has been increasing .
Sanjay Sangvai