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DAM-L LS: Long March Starts Exposing Maharashtra Govt. Claims (fwd)



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Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 16:26:00 -0800 (PST)
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subject: LS: Long March Starts Exposing Maharashtra Govt. Claims
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NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda, Gujarat. Telefax: 0265-382232
58, M.G.Road, Badwani, M.P. Tel: 07290-22464

Press note, Nov. 8, 2000

No Land For Oustees: People Protest Against the Unjust Submergence 
And Displacement

LONG MARCH STARTS EXPOSING THE CLAIMS BY MAHARTASHTRA GOVT

DEMONSTRATIONS IN SHAHADA, NANDURBAR: MUMBAI DHARNA ON NOV. 9

The tribal oustees from Maharashtra once again exposed the false 
claims of land availability by the government of Maharashtra, this 
time in the presence of the prominent persons and the Secretary of 
Union Ministry of Social Justice. In a public meeting at the 
resettlement sites near Taloda (Maharashtra) on Tuesday (November 7), 
the district administration had to admit that it had no land for the 
oustees that would be affected by the 90 meters of the height of the 
dam, as ordered by the Supreme Court. It was again revealed that even 
the oustees displaced due to the 80 m height of the dam, have not 
been resettled fully.

Over seven hundred oustees representatives from Maharashtra villages 
started the Long March with a Call of Justice (Nyay ki Pukar), on 
November 6 from Dhadgaon. This is one of the two batches of the 
people from the valley proceeding towards Delhi to put up their 
grievance before the nation. The other group of the villagers from 
Madhya Pradesh would be proceeding from Indore. The Maharashtra part 
of the Long March was flagged off from Dhadgaon, the headquarters of 
Akrani tehsil and the people held rallies in Shahada and Taloda, 
before proceeding to hold the dharna at Nandurbar on Wednesday (Nov. 
8). Number of tribal and other organisations outside the valley 
joined the demonstrations at these places. Everywhere, the people 
understood the tribal oustees' point regarding the injustice by the 
Supreme Court order.

The campaign is undertaken to expose the recent judgement on Narmada 
issue by the Supreme Court and give a call for transforming judiciary 
to be truthful, committed to the Constitutional value of protecting 
the rights of the depressed classes and be accountable. There will 
also be a public hearing on the Narmada issue in which many jurists 
and experts would participate. The Long March will also appeal to the 
President to use his powers to stop further devastation of the Valley 
and destitution of the people.

Submergence Without resettlement

The claims regarding the resettlement of the Maharashtra government 
was once again exposed before the hundreds of oustees and the 
Secretary of the Social Justice Ministry, Ms. Asha Das. The oustees 
from the submergence zone and those on the rehabilitation sites 
confronted the Collector of Nandurbar on the availability of the land 
for the new oustees. The already displaced oustees, below the 80 
meters of the dam height, were not given the land for last 4 to 7 
years. There was no land for the oustees that are being affected by 
the increased height of the dam. The Supreme Court has ordered to 
take up the height of the dam up to 90 meters, when even those below 
the 80 and 88 m height could not be resettled in Maharashtra and 
Madhya Pradesh as yet.

The villagers on the bank of Narmada asked the Center and the state 
government to take note of this reality. They made a forceful plea 
not to increase the height of the dam and cause further submergence, 
which would be at the cost of the life of the tribal oustees.

After day-long demonstrations at Nandurbar, the district headquarters 
and confronting the officials, the March would proceed towards 
Mumbai, where the people would question the Maharashtra government 
about the displacement and submergence, on November 9. They would be 
meeting the Maharashtra Governor, as the Constitutional Protector of 
the tribals' rights.

 From November 11, the Maharashtra oustees and the Madhya Pradesh 
oustees coming over via Indore, would launch a dharna in Delhi. 
Number of organisations from all over India, along with noted 
jurists, social and political activists and academicians, would join 
Narmada Bachao Andolan in Delhi along with the citizens who value 
democracy and people's rights.

Sanjay Sangvai

Joe Athialy

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