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dam-l NBA PR: Road Block at Rajghat Bridge
NBA Press Release 24th August, 1999
The Satyagraha in the Narmada valley intensifies: Road Block at Rajghat
bridge.
The Satyagraha in the Narmada valley intensifies as people of
Nimad blocked the Baroda - Khandwa high way at Rajghat from
early morning of 24.8.99 till 8.00 in the evening. More than 150
villages of Nimad are threatened by submergence through Sardar
Sarovar Project, some of them in this monsoon itself. The
Satyagraha to protest this submergence has been going on in the
Narmada Valley since June 20th at Jalsindhi village in Madhya
Pradesh and Domkhedi village in Maharashtra. To intensify the
protest and to assert that people will continue to fight to save their
lands and homes and villages men, women and children
assembled at Rajghat bridge near Chikalda village and blocked the
state highway. The people demanded that the Madhya Pradesh
government should change its position on the Sardar Sarovar
Project and demand complete stoppage and review of the project.
The largest submergence falls in the state of Madhya Pradesh with
193 villages to be submerged by Sardar Sarovar Project alone.
The Madhya Pradesh government has no facility whatsoever to
rehabilitate more than 30 thousand families affected in their state.
The people of Nimad have been fighting or waging a non-violent
struggle for 14 years now. The government of Madhya Pradesh in
its response have demanded a reduction of the Sardar Sarovar dam
height by 19 feet. This is totally unacceptable to the people of
Nimad and today once again by blocking the state highway the
people again declared their determination to fight tooth and nail for
the protection of their right to life.
Many local leaders of the area and supporters of Narmada Bachao
Andolan were present in this program. The assembly of people
was addressed by Ratansingh Chowgde, Ashish Mandloi, Govind
Patidar, Devendra Singh Thomal and Dr.Sugant Bharant. It was
also declared by the people that if the Madhya Pradesh
government allows any further increase in the height of the dam
the people will further intensify their struggle by protesting against
the government offices in the region. In a memorandum to the
collector people also expressed anguish at the illegal submergence
of fields and homes of more 25 villages on 10th and 11th of
August. At Domkhedi, Tribal people, supporters and Medha
Patkar stood in chest deep water for 18 hours with the
determination to drown but not move. At Jalsindhi the rising
waters caused devastation of fields and people Jalsindhi
Satyagraha house continued to sit as the water rose to touch the
Satyagraha house. The people have also demanded compensation
for the damage caused due to this illegal submergence.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan expresses gratitude to all those
who helped in making this program successful and also expresses
regrets for the inconvenience caused to general public.
Rehmat