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dam-l LS: Symbolic 'Submergence' of NVDA Office by Nimad Youths



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NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007


SYMBOLIC 'SUBMERGENCE' OF NVDA OFFICE BY NIMAD YOUTHS
SATYAGRAHA CONTINUES DESPITE SUBMERGENCE

Hundreds of young activists from the Nimad region in the Narmada
valley demonstrated in front of the office of the Narmada valley
Development Authority (NVDA) in Manawar ( M.P.) and 'submerged' the
office with the slush and water on August 30. They were protesting
against the unjust submergence in the Narmada valley, particularly on
August 10-11, caused by the complicity of the state government through
the false affidavits regarding the resettlement.

The youths in the Narmada valley (Rewa ke Yuva - Youths of Rewa, that
is, Narmada) organised the programme with the cooperation of other
activists in the Narmada valley. They were agitated over the fact that
the government had compelled the villagers and satyagrahis to face the
submergence water of the Sardar Sarovar Project. "This is unjust and
violation of all the constitutional and human rights and against the
larger justice for the downtrodden", they asserted.

Meanwhile, the satyagraha at Domkhedi and Jalsindhi villages has been
continuing despite the dangerous floods and submergence of the houses
and fields. They have announced that in case of the renewed
submergence, the satyagraha would not be confined to the two
villages but the people would confront the waters in different villages
in their houses. The people, still determined to stay put are planning
the new programmes regarding their rights.

Global Support

Number of organisations from different parts of India and world are
visiting the satyagraha villages. Over 25 representatives of
various radical organisations in Western Europe and N. America related
with the People's Global Action (PGA) against the free trade and World
Trade Organisation (WTO) stayed at Satyagraha place to express their
solidarity. Activists from Germany, Switzerland, U.K., USA, Canada,
Spain, Italy, Austria visited the villages like Domkhedi, Jalsindhi,
Nimgavhan, Atti, Pipalchowk, Manibeli in the tribal regions and Narmada
Valley and assessed the situation arising out of the submergence and
displacement. They also visited the Jeevan Shala ( School) run by the
Andolan.

A group of four activists of the Assembly of Poor from Thailand also
participated in the satyagraha in  Domkhedi and Jalsindhi. The group
included the representatives of the villagers struggling against the
controversial Pak Mun dam in the North Eastern Thailand in the Mekong
valley. They narrated the destruction unleashed by the dam, particularly
on the fisheries downstream, which has snatched  away the livelihood of
thousands of families.

The Satyagraha is continuing with the increasing participation from the
villagers in the tribal and non-tribal areas of the valley. On
September 6-8, a Youth Camp is being organised at Domkhedi; on August
8-9, the representatives from the tribal villages would have a camp
about the constructive work in the SSP affected area.

Sanjay Sangvai