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----- Forwarded message from Medha Patkar -----

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Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 18:44:36 -0800
To: irn-narmada@@netvista.net
From: Medha Patkar <medhapatkar@vsnl.com> (by way of Patrick McCully)
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[text/enriched is unsupported, treating like TEXT/PLAIN]

subject: LS: Gujarati Press on SSP Downstream Impacts



Translation From Gujarati


<bold><underline>Press Cutting No. 1


Sandesh: 8-1-2000


</underline><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Currently, While The Whole
Of Gujarat Is Reeling Under Drought

</fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Tribals Get
Stinking Water As The Gates Of Narmada Project Are Being Closed On Whim
And Fancy.( Headline)


Villages On Riverbank Get Water That Stinks Of Dead Fish (In Box)


Kevadia Colony date 7: The authorities close the gates of Narmada
project at their whim and fancy. Due to this the tribals living on the
bank of the river are getting stinking water to drink due to dead fish.
Right now Gujarat is desperate for drinking water. The whole state is
experiencing water shortage from winter itself. One can  imagine what
the situation in summer will be like. Recently, since quite some time,
the main gates of the Narmada project are being closed  anytime
arbitrarily. The water of Narmada is mainly used by the people in the
villages like Garudeshwar, Kevadia village, Gora, Wagadia, Navagam,
Tilakwada, Karjan, etc. These are mainly poor tribal people. Also
aquatic life is dying in large numbers. This consists mainly of fish.
As the flow of Narmada river has stopped, as aquatic life is dying, the
people on the banks of the river are using polluted- stinking water.
Animals  cattle  are also drinking this water. This has lead to a
situation wherein this area may get into the grip of illness like
cholera.


Confidential sources say that the authorities are closing the gates of
the dam before giving prior notice. And one or so gate is opened at
their convenience and desire. But this convinience of theirs is playing
with the lives of tribals. This is not being considered. As the flow in
the downstream has stopped, the people have no choice but to use this
water.


The demand of the people living on the banks is that as was the case in
the past, atleast one gate should be kept open for 24 hours so that
clean water can be derived.


(Incomplete as only part of cutting is available)



</fontfamily><bold><underline>Press Cutting No. 2


</underline>Loksatta 19-1-2001


<fontfamily><param>Arial</param>As The Gates Of The Narmada Dam Have
Been Closed

</fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Narmada Waters Turn
Salty Since Past 15 Days (Headline)


If the water problem is not solved, there will be an <italic>Andolan
</italic>(Agitation).(sub headline)


Bharuch,  Dated 18: The villages on the banks of the river Narmada in
the down stream of the Narmada dam have been using the sweet waters of
Narmada for both drinking and irrigation since years. These people and
animals and birds have a natural right to use Narmada waters. No one
has the right to snatch away this right. Jayeshbhai Patel of Vyara
district while presenting a memorandum told this.


As the gates of the Narmada dam have been closed, the flow of water in
the downstream has extremely reduced, as a result the tide of sea
waters have reached upto 50 to 60 Kms inside. Waters of Narmada have
turned salty since past 15 days. Water scarcity has arisen in  Bharuch
district on north bank of the  Narmada in villages from Dehgam to Janor
and on the South bank from Dhanturia to Pathar. In this context a
memorandum was submitted under the leadership of the district congress
leader Jayeshbhai Patel to the District authorities.


As stated in the memorandum, agricultural crop in thousands of acres of
land dependent on the irrigation from the river was getting dried up,
as salty water cannot be used for irrigation. If this water were used
in the fields, the crop would get destroyed. Salty water will turn the
land saline. Occupation of fishery is in deep trouble. Issue of life
and death of lacs of people, animals and birds has arisen due to this
man made water scarcity.


Under such circumstances residents should immediately open the Narmada
dam so that there is adequate flow of sweat Narmada waters. If required
a small dam should be built near Bharuch Golden bridge to stop sea
water ingress as is done in the case of Tapi near Surat. If immediate
steps are not taken to solve the water scarcity than the residents will
start <italic>Andolan</italic> (agitation) on the lines of Gandhiji's
non violent means.


There is also some information that due to salt water the Golden bridge
at Bharuch has also started rusting due to the salt waters. This fact
that the rusting process is increasing  has also been admitted by the
PWD.


[Ends]
</fontfamily>


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----- End of forwarded message from Medha Patkar -----