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DAM-L LS: Dam breach in Gujarat terrifies villagers (fwd)
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Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 14:04:54 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200102192204.f1JM4sp25760@DaVinci.NetVista.net>
Subject: LS: Dam breach in Gujarat terrifies villagers
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>
>http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb14/up6.htm
>
>Aji dam breach in Gujarat terrifies villagers
>
>From Tanushree Gangopadhyay
>DH News Service
>JAMNAGAR, Feb 14
>
>A breach in the Aji Dam number 4 approximately 60 km east from the air and
>naval base of Jamnagar has terrified villagers in the vicinity many of which
>have been devastated in the killer earthquake.Babyben Macwana, former sarpanch
>of Balambha the largest village near the dam, says that ?a large number of
>residents here are terrified and have demanded that the village on the
>downstream of Aji river close to the dam be shifted to a safer place at a
>reasonable height near the highway?. The village which has undergone the
>harrowing experience of over a dozen deaths in the killer earthquake, she
>feared was on the brink of yet another disaster this monsoon - deluge with the
>breached dam - a worse catastrophe.
>
>Morvi is not far away from this village. Many residents recall the nightmarish
>experience of the Macchu dam burst in 1979 which swept away around 2000
>people, a large number of whom could not be found, reminiscence the elders in
>the village.People in the Madhapur, Ranjitput, Bhimkantha and many other
>villages in the vicinity of Balambha all in the downstream of Aji Dam number 4
>are petrified. Even a dam situated near Moti Chirai in Kachcha which feeds the
>port of Kandla has breached and terrorised the people.
>
>It is now that people who have met Medha Patkar, are convinced that she who
>campaigned against the Narmada dam was right. The wise masons in this village
>are aware of the dangers of bursting of a masonary structure like a dam. More
>than 130 dams in Saurashtra and Kutch region in Western Gujarat also faced the
>danger of damage during the killer earthaquakes. The irrigation department of
>the Gujarat government claims to have checked all the dams and have promised
>to repair the breached dams and weirs. However the people are undeterred and
>refuse to accept anything the government says.
>
>Balambha village inhabited by a majority of Rajmistries (a community of
>masons) is today devastated and turned into rubble. The village with a
>population of 4,500 had 1,700 masonary homesteads razed to the ground on
>Republic Day, when two couples were on the verge of tying their neptial card.
>Both the bridal parties left soon after the killer earthquake with a simple
>ceremony of exchanging garlands.
>
>The indigenous knowledge of water conservation existed in this village. A
>canal called Kapuriu brings water to this village. Dhangauriben Ratnani, the
>taluk panchayat representative of this village a very enthusiastic person
>narrated the history of the legendary Kapuriu.A bride to this village scores
>of decades back, was a victim of her mother-in-law?s atrocity for her
>inability to collect water, among other flaws. She was nagged and demanded
>that she seek another gift from her rich father - a canal from river Aji. Her
>father Kapur Sheth is said to have dug a canal from the river, which brings
>water to the village even today. This Kapuriyu as it is called is a source of
>joy to the people.Dhangauriben, is full of remorse as her scheme of getting
>piped water supply to village was botched by the fury of nature. The
>inauguration of the waterworks was scheduled for Republic Day. ?Baiyuna
>mathethi bedu utarwanu kaam me lidhuhatoon, pan kudratne na gamyu? (Nature did
>not approve of our efforts at taking the water pot away from women?s head).?We
>had planned 800 connections for which very household willingly contributed Rs
>500. Fortunately the water tank stands very stately at the entrance of the
>village. This landmark will remain in the village as a mark of feminist
>solidarity.?
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