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dam-l LS: Maheshwar Press Note-10.03.2000



Narmada Bachao Andolan
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda
Tel: 0265-382232   Email: <nba@bnpl.com> <nobigdam@bom4.vsnl.net.in>
_______________________________________________________

Press Note
Bhopal, 10.03.2000

People's Representatives demonstrate against Maheshwar Project- 
Petition by 300 newly elected people's representatives handed over to 
Chief Minister and Governor, Madhya Pradesh

Today, nearly 150 newly-elected people's representatives from  the 
Maheshwar, Barwah and Kasravad Tehsils of Khargone district 
demonstrated against the Maheshwar Hydro-electric Project at the 
Roshanpura Chowk in Bhopal. During a day-long dharna, a delegation of 
elected representatives to the state government in the name of the 
Chief Minister and the Governor, Madhya Pradesh. The resolution asked 
for the destructive Maheshwar Project to be scrapped immediately.

This resolution which expresses complete opposition to the Maheshwar 
Project was signed by not only by 6 district representatives of 
Khargone but also the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of Maheshwar 
and Kasravad Tehsils and by over 300 representatives of 25 Panchayats 
affected by submergence and waterlogging by the Maheshwar 
Hydro-electric project.  It may be noted soon after the recently held 
Panchayat elections were concluded in Madhya Pradesh, several hundred 
people's representatives met at the village Mardana in Khargone 
district on the banks of the river Narmada. The representatives 
present in this gathering expressed deep concern about the manner in 
which the Madhya Pradesh government has ignored widespread people's 
sentiments to carry on the work on the Maheshwar Project under police 
protection.

They said that today when it is clear, even on the basis of the 
government's own figure that the cost of peaking power from this 
Project is Rs. 10 per unit at dam site, no farmer or small and medium 
industry or common person can afford this power and as a result, the 
entire state will be plunged into darkness.  The representatives said 
that in the light of the fact that for 8 months of the year this 
Project will not produce more than 1.5 hours electricity daily, it is 
inappropriate that 61 prosperous villages  of Nimad and rich, fertile 
fields and scores of sand quarries should be either fully or 
partially submerged and destroyed by this project. They said that 
when not one out of the 40,000 people to be affected by this Project 
has been shown a single inch of cultivable land for the purposes of 
rehabilitation, to continue with the dam work with the use of force 
is to invite an enormous human tragedy.

The people's representatives have said in their resolution that 78% 
of the funds for this Project is from foreign sources. As per the 
Power Purchase Agreement of this Project the Madhya Pradesh 
government will have to pay the private promoters - the S.Kumars - a 
sum of Rs.600 crores per annum for the next 35 years whether or not 
the stipulated power is actually produced by this Project. They said 
that such an agreement constitutes the open loot of the people of 
this country.

In their written resolution that they have demanded that the 
Maheshwar Project should immediately be scrapped and that the cheaper 
and better energy alternatives detailed in the task Force Report of 
the Madhya Pradesh government should be implemented. They have called 
upon the Central government to revoke the Environmental and 
Techno-Economic clearances given to the Project in the light of the 
open and flagrant violations of the conditions.

The people's representatives who arrived at Bhopal today for the 
demonstration condemned the repressive attitude of the Madhya Pradesh 
government. They said the manner in which the Madhya Pradesh 
government brutally attacked the peaceful satyagraha of the Narmada 
Bachao Andolan and arrested hundreds of women and male satyagrahis on 
the 8th of March International Women's Day is completely illegal and 
unconstitutional. They said that the Article 19 of the Constitution 
expressly guarantees, the right of freedom of expression and the 
right of peaceful assembly and the right to organise to every citizen 
of India. Therefore, the action of the Madhya Pradesh government to 
unlawfully extend Section 144 in the privately held land where the 
satyagrahis were sitting was a direct attack on the Constitution.

The nir jal fast, started by Chittaroopa Palit was withdrawn, was 
called off on the release of all the arrested, yesterday night.

The delegation at Bhopal warned the Madhya Pradesh government that 
they should take cognizance of the fact that all people's 
representatives of the area completely oppose the Project in one 
voice and yet if it still persists in ignoring the voice of the 
people then they will support the struggle against this destructive 
project with all their strength. They said that it is completely 
shameful that the Madhya Pradesh government illegally attacked and 
removed the peaceful satyagraha of the dam-affected people in order 
to ensure the smooth passage of the multinational company ABB (Asea 
Brown Boveri) in the dam site as well as their participation in this 
Project. They said the people of this country will not stand any 
government that fawns on multinationals and brutalises its own people.

Kalabai Shankarlal PatidarKalavar Singh
Vice-ChairpersonDistrict RepresentativeChairperson
Maheshwar SarpanchKhargoveMaheshwar janpad
Sikdar, SarpanchReshambai, SarpanchMishrilal, Sarpanch
Village JaludVillage AmlathaVillage Bhatian
Shivkaran, SarpanchNaklia, SarpanchSheruji Randwa
Village PitnagarVillage SulgaonJanpad Representative
Kasaravad Janpad


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