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NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN

Mumbai Contact- Pervin:2184779; Ravi/Mahendra: 5574895)

Press Note/ April 4, 2000

MAHARASHTRA GOVT. AGAIN PROVES THAT IT HAS NO LAND FOR RESETTLEMENT BY
REFUSING JOINT SURVEY: STRUGGLE TO INTENSIFY
FAST AND DHARNA WITHDRAWN

"The Maharashtra government once again proved that it has no requisite land
for resettling the oustees and all its claims regarding land availability are
false by refusing to conduct the joint survey of the land availability",
asserted Medha Patkar and Vesta Pawra, while ending their six day old fast
in Dhule General Hospital on Monday (April 4). "The people would expose the
fraud played upon by the government on the displaced and resettled people"
they asserted at the end of the indefinite dharna, launched on March 27, at
Nandurbar.

The Maharashrta police had arrested all the protestors on Sunday (April 3)
after the state government refused to continue the aborted joint survey with
the people's representatives and officials, about the land availability for
the resettlement of Maharashtra oustees. Of the arrested villagers, the state
government slammed fictitious serious offences of 'rioting', 'attempt to kill
officials' obstructing' in government work, under sections  143, 148, 341,
337 of IPA and 37(1) of BPA on 54 men and 32 women protestors. They all are
being released on bond. Another 100 protestors were detained and later were
released in Nandurbar on Sunday.

The police brought Medha Patkar, Vesta Pawra and Mansinghbhai, who were on
indefinite fast from March 30, to Dhule general hospital. They started forced
feeding to Medha in the late night of 4th. Therefore, the NBA ended the
dharna and fast on Monday with the declaration that it will expose the false
claims regarding the land resettlement of the Maharashtra government with
more intensity. It was revealed that the senior bureaucrats from Mumbai had
directed the district administration "not to give anything in writing to
the NBA" till the Supreme Court hearing was on. The villagers and activists
condemned this attitude of Maharashtra government.

"The chicanery of Maharashtra government has been revealed from one
instance. It claims that about 330 hectares land is available  in the
resettlement sites in Rozava, Amlibari and Somaval. In reality over 130
already 'resettled' people did not get the land in these sites. However,
the state government is just refusing to conduct the joint survey with the
representatives of the oustees. This thoroughly exposes its claims",
asserted Vestabhai while talking with the reporters in Dhule.


Sanjay Sangvai

Narmada Bachao Andolan