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DAM-L LS: PR: Long March Reaches Mumbai (fwd)
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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 11:13:47 -0800 (PST)
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subject: LS: PR: Long March Reaches Mumbai
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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 - 9.11.2000
LONG MARCH REACHES MUMBAI - INCREASING SUPPORT ALL ALONG:
NARMADA TRIBALS APPEAL TO GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA TO PROTECT THEIR
RIGHTS AND LIFE
Govt. Claims Of Land and Resettlement Exposed Once Again
In Taloda
Mumbai, Nov. 9
The Narmada valley tribals affected by the controversial Sardar Sarovar
Project (SSP) today met the Governor of Maharashtra and appealed him
to safeguard their right to life and resources from the unjust
submergence and displacement using his Constitutional prerogative,
under Schedule 5 of the Constitution. The people also have demanded
that the Maharashtra government must stand by the rights of its
people and interests of the state rather than blindly supporting the
Gujarat government in the matter of SSP. |
The Governor has assured the delegation that he will look into the issues
earnestly.
About 700 representatives of the affected villagers on the banks of
Narmada have arrived in Mumbai on November 9 as a part of their Long
March "Call to Justice", towards Delhi to appeal to the conscience of
the nation regarding the injustice and suppression of their
fundamental rights. The March held impressive demonstrations and
meetings at Dhadgaon, Shahada, Taloda, Nandurbar and Jalgaon before
arriving in Mumbai. Organisations and citizens in these places
expressed solidarity with the cause of Narmada oustees. A 30 member
group from Karnataka, representing different organisatios like Dalit
Mahila Chalwali, Samvada have joined the Long March in Mumbai.
The Long March by the people is aiming to expose the legal,
Constitutional and social shortcomings inherent in the recent
majority judgment on Narmada issue by the Supreme Court and a call
for transforming judiciary to be more truthful, committed to the
Constitutional value of protecting the rights of the depressed
classes and accountable. The March aims to reassert the people's
rights as against the rights of the corporate interests and
powerholders. There will also be a public hearing in Delhi on the
Narmada issue in on November 14, organized by the Indian People's
Tribunal, Mumbai, in which a group of eminent people from different
walks of life will form the jury. The Long March will also appeal to
the President to use his powers to stop further devastation of
tribals, in particular and the Valley and destitution of the people,
in general.
Meeting With Governor
After arriving in Mumbai, the people from the Narmada valley went to
Chaitya Bhoomi, on the shores of Arabian sea, and paid homage to the
memorial of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution.
Later a delegation of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the supporters
met the Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. P.C. Alexander to appeal him to
use his discretionary powers under the Schedule V of the Indian
Constitution to protect the rights and life of the tribals. The
delegation included the senior tribal leaders like Noorji Padvi,
Vestabhai Pawra, Dedlibai, Geeta Vasave (all from Maharashtra
villages), Natubhai Rathwa (Gujarat), Harilal tadvi and Khansingh
(Sanctuary affected, Gujarat), Jordar Pawra (Punarvasan Sangharsha
Samiti, Resettlement site, Maharashtra), Surekha Dalvi (Shoshit Jan
Andolan, Maharashtra), N.D.Kholi, National Fishworkers Forum and
Medha Patkar of NBA.
They pointed out that Maharashtra will not get any benefit from the
SSP, rather it had lost its 10,000 hectares of forest, would cause
the displacement of over 5000 tribal families and would have to shell
Rs. 1200 crores for the dam. Even the drought affected regions of
Kutch, Saurashtra and North Gujarat will not benefit from the dam and
would cause serious environmental and social problems in Gujarat
itself.
From Chaitya Bhoomi, the people went in a rally to the Azad Maidan
from Churchgate. Hundreds of activists from various organisations and
prominent citizens joined the day-long demonstrations. Punrvas
Sangharsh Smiti, Shoshit Jan Andolan, Girani Kamgar Sangharsha
Samiti, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Rashtra Seva Dal, Slum Dwellers'
organisation, Footpathwasi Jan Sanghatan, Manav Mukti Morcha,
Rationing Kruti Samiti and various activists came in support of the
Narmada valley people in Mumbai.
Visit of Chairperson of R&R sub group of NCA:
No Land For Oustees Even Below 80 Meters Proved Again
Before arriving at Mumbai, the oustees once again exposed the false
claims of land availability by the government of Maharashtra, this
time in the presence of the prominent persons and Ms. Asha Das,
Chairperson of R&R sub-Group of Narmada Control Authority (who is
also the Secretary of Union Ministry of Social Justice). On a visit
to Rozva and Amlibari rehabilitation sites in 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 till date with cultivable land.
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. "How come the Court then 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", the people questioned to both
the administration and the Court, which did not take into account the
reality. Ms. Asha Das had no answer to their questions. The body
headed by Ms. Das had given the report about the resettlement and the
people asked her to show the land, which the report claimed in the
previous report to be available. After hearing all serious problems
in respect to proper rehabilitation of the SSP oustees, she replied,
" I would verify". The people asked, "So you submitted the report,
without verifying the facts?". One official even have admitted that ,
"thoda problem hain yeh abhi lag raha hai" [it seems now that there
is some problems (in rehabilitation)], which enraged the people. "
Now? And that too some problem?" The oustees who have been displaced
for seven years and could not get the land, other oustees on the
resettlement sites with full of complaints and the affected people
from the valley confronted the officials at Taloda. Once again it was
revealed that the government has been patently dishonest with the
people and with the Court. Court too has failed to authenticate the
claims made by the concerned governments and allowed further
construction of the dam.
Common People's Solidarity
Hundreds of people and the number of organisations and groups in
Shahada, Taloda, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Amalner and Pachora turned to
greet the Long March (Nyay Ki Pukar, Call for Justice), of the
Adivasis from Narmada valley. Adivasi Ekata Parishad, Rashtra Seva
Dal, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsha Vahini, Shramik Mukti Sangathan ,
Mahatma Phule Samta Sangahtan, Janarth , Nandurbar Bar Association
and number of other organisations participated in the programmes,
welcomed, fed the people in the rallies and meetings at Jalgaon,
Nandurbar, Taloda, Shahada. On route to Mumbai by railway, hundreds
of activists at Amalner and Pachora railway stations arranged
receptions to the people from Narmada valley at the platform itself.
The political parties like Congress, Nationalist Congress (Taloda),
Communist Party (Marxist) and Janata Dal expressed support to the
cause of the NBA. Everywhere the people and organisations criticised
the decision of the Supreme Court to allow the dam construction and
expressed solidarity with the struggle of the people.
Sanjay Sangvai
Joe Athialy
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