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dam-l LS: Revised Version of the Satyagraha 2000 Appeal
Revised Version of the Satyagraha 2000 appeal. Ignore previous
Satyagraha appeal. Apologies
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007 ** 58, Gandhi Marg,
Badwani, M.P.
JOIN THE SATYAGRAHA –2000 IN NARMADA VALLEY FROM JULY 15
Dear Friends,
Once again, the Narmada valley will be facing the submergence and
displacement in the Monsoon of 2000, due to the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Once
again the people in the villages are gearing themselves up for a Satyagraha,
the non-violent mass action, against the imposed submergence.
The height of the dam was at 88 meters in the last year’s monsoon, as was
decided by the Supreme Court in 1999. Last year, despite the scanty rains,
the swirling backwaters of the dam had destroyed hundreds of farms and
houses in the villages in Maharashtra and Alirajpur tehsil of Madhya
Pradesh. The water has entered in the Satyagraha places of Domkhedi,
Jalsindhi, Piplachop, Sikka and Bharad where the people confronted the waist
and chest deep submergence waters. On August 21, 1999, the Satyagrahis in
Domkhedi did not move out even when the menacingly increasing water came
upto their lips. The Satyagraha in 1999 has shown that the people and
activists of Andolan are ready to confront the submergence to save the
valley from the destruction.
The Satyagraha generated the spirit of Narmada struggle all over the
country; hundreds of activists, youths from various parts of country
converged at Satyagraha places during the monsoon of 1999; many programmes
were held supporting the struggle in various cities and towns all over
India. The "Rally for the Valley" by the supporters was a landmark occasion,
creating a new awakening about the issues. Supporting organisations held a "
Narmada Samarthan Yatra" ( Solidarity March) from Kanyakumari to Delhi, in
July, 1999 and met the President of India to make him aware of the basic
issues that the Andolan has been raising. The President also has referred to
the Narmada Satyagraha as the new awakening of the youth in India. The Prime
Minister too has written a letter to NBA accepting the gravity of the
issues.
Meanwhile, the Governments continued their efforts to displace the people by
hook or crook, and file false affidavits regarding resettlement in the
Supreme Court. The attempts were made to whitewash the larger reality, by
creating some ‘model sites’. However, the basic issues regarding the land
availability, infrastructure, the rights, natural resources and livelihood
remained unanswered. The people are also have been questioning the false
claims made by the governments, proving that the government could not
resettle fully the people hitherto displaced. The people from the
resettlement sites in Maharashtra and Gujarat too have joined with the
people in the valley in exposing the false claims of the governments.
The Supreme Court completed the final hearing of the public interest writ
petition filed by the Narmada Bachao Andolan on May 9, 2000, nearly six
years after filing the petition. The Court, in the last leg of final
hearing, heard the arguments about the environmental and other issues raised
by the Andolan and did not confine it to the resettlement issue. Meanwhile,
the court has asked the government of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to
establish the Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRAs) on the lines of Gujarat
government. The GRAs were asked to ascertain whether the resettlement till
this time in the respective states has been according to the Narmada Dispute
Tribunal’s (NWDT) provisions and secondly, the land availability for the
remaining oustees and whether the resettlement of these oustees would be
possible according to NWDT.
On this backdrop of constant struggle and challenge to the displacement and
submergence, the height of the dam remained the same this year, despite the
repeated efforts of Gujarat government to get the work on the dam restarted
beyond 88 meters. However, though the height remains the same, last year the
rains were below average. This year the average rainfall would bring in the
greater submergence than that of last year. There would be more destruction
of houses and farms during this monsoon. The people have decided to
challenge the imposition of unjust submergence, displacement by the
government and demand for the complete review of the dam.
People will be observing the monsoon-long Satyagraha again this year- the
Satyagraha 2000, which will be launched on July 15, at Jalsindhi, Domkhedi
and other villages in the valley. The details of the Satyagraha will be
announced on the first day of Satyagraha in the valley. This time also,
along with the struggle we will also pursue the constructive work
navnirman), surveying with the villagers the resources of the adivasi area,
with village mapping and participating in the daily village chores or in the
work of the people’s school ( jeevanshala) .
Once again the struggle is round the corner and at this decisive hour, we
wish you to be with us, as comrade-in-arms, friends and witness to this
non-violent assertion of the rights of the people of this country. The
people in the Narmada valley once again call unto you to join in the
Satyagraha and strengthen the resistance in the valley against the
displacement and destitution.. The struggle in the valley is a joint
endeavour of us all against the repression and destruction in the name of
development.
Please come to Jalsindhi ( M.P.) and Domkhedi ( Maharashtra), where the
Satyagraha will be launched from 12.00 a.m. in the noon on July 15, 2000.
Along with the people affected by the SSP, the affected persons by canals,
colony, sanctuary for the project and the people affected by the Maheshwar,
Narmada Sagar, Veda, Goi and Bargi dams in the Narmada valley would also be
joining the Satyagraha. We appal to the activists of organisations, youths,
and affected people from various ‘development’ projects and other pro-people
experts, citizens to reach at Baroda or Badwani till the afternoon of 14th
July.
We call unto you to be partner in this common struggle to protect the right
to life, resources and democratic values.
Noorji Padvi Luvariya Shankariya
Bawa Mahariya Keshav Vasave Dedli Bai
Prabhubhai Tadvi Rasik Gajanan Balibehn Tadvi
Jagannath Patidar Devram Kanera Mohan Patidar
Kamala Yadav Mukesh Jat Karuna
Kailash Awasiya Clifton Shobha Pravin
Dr. Sugan Baranth Nandini Oza Alok Agrawal ... others
To reach the Satyagraha place come to Baroda or Badwani and contact at NBA
offices the addresses are given at the end. As it would be the rainy season,
come with the required protection, strong shes/chappals and lighter
belongings. If needed bring mosquito repellants and with some necessary
medicines, torch etc.
To reach Domkhedi/ Jalsindhi, please take bus from Baroda bus station
towards Kadipani via Kavant . From Kavant proceed by bus/ private vehicle to
Kadipani. From Kadipani, Hapheshwar, on the banks of Narmada is 8 Kms.
Either proceed on foot or wait for the NBA vehicle at the last bus stop in
Kadipani. From Badwani. take a bus to Chhota Udepur. From there to
Kavant-Kadipani and rest as above. NBA contacts:
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007 Phone: 0265-382232; :email:
nba@bnpl.com
58, Gandhi Marg, Badwani, M.P.Ph.
07290-22464.Email;nobigdam@bom4.vsnl.net.in;medhapatkar@vsnl.com).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Please note my new address <sanjay@narmada.org>