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DAM-L LS: Maharashtra R&R Report Vindicates NBA (fwd)
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Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 16:40:24 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: LS: Maharashtra R&R Report Vindicates NBA
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Narmada Bachao Andolan
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda. Tel: 0265-382232
Press Note: 12th July 2001.
Justice (Retd.) Daud Committee Report on
Resettlement of Sardar Sarovar Project Oustees in Maharashtra
Comes Down Heavily on the Government
Exposes the Lapses in Supreme Court Judgment; Vindicates NBA's Position
Indicting the Government of Maharashtra's position on the
rehabilitation of Sardar Sarovar Project oustees and the Supreme
Court judgment of October 2000 in the matter of Narmada Bachao
Andolan, Justice S.M. Daud Committee has stated emphatically that the
resettlement of those affected at 90 m. is yet to be completed due to
the non-availability of land. It has recommended that the Government
should not accept any proposal to raise the height of the dam beyond
its existing height of 90 (ninety) meters until all problems are
solved. It has further strongly recommended for a Master Plan for
rehabilitation to be prepared in consultation with the oustees and
for a fresh survey to be undertaken ascertaining the actual number of
families to be affected by the project before any further increase in
height of the dam. It also recommends that the Government should
clarify to the Narmada Control Authority that resettlement at 90m is
still due and that there is no land available.
'Committee to Assist the Resettlement and Rehabilitation of the
Sardar Sarovar Project-Affected Persons' (Jst. Daud Committee) was
formed in the wake of a three day dharna between January 2-4, 2001 by
Narmada Bachao Andolan demanding that the government of Maharashtra
undertake an independent review of the present status of
rehabilitation, the plight of those already relocated to the R&R
sites and those in the original villages, all within the framework of
the NWDTA, rehabilitation policy and the order of the Supreme Court.
The government had also agreed to the formation of a second Committee
to review the cost benefits of the Sardar Sarovar project for
Maharashtra.
The Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Justice S.M. Daud
(Retired). The members include Shri Manikrao Gavit, Member of
Parliament, Barrister Sharad Palav, Shri R.V. Buskute, Shri Nandalal,
Principal Secretary (Revenue and Forest Department, Government of
Maharashtra) and Shri K.S. Parab, Section Officer (Revenue and Forest
Department, Government of Maharashtra). The Committee also consisted
of Special Invitees, Smt. Pratibha Shinde of Punarwasan Sangharsh
Samiti (PSS), Shri More, Joint Secretary, Irrigation Department,
Government of Maharashtra and Shri Mali, Joint Secretary, Revenue and
Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra.
The Committee has finalized its Report and submitted it to the
government on 29th of June for further action.
The findings of the Committee thus expose the failings of the Supreme
Court judgment in allowing the Govt. of Gujarat to further add 5
meters (2 + 3 mts humps) to the then existing dam height. NBA time
and again warned that the rehabilitation of those tribals who are
affected up to the already built height of the dam is far from
complete, and any further construction with jeopardize the lives of
thousands of more families. Up to 5000 families in the three affected
States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, almost entirely
tribal, will be facing submergence (depending on the rainfall) this
monsoon, without rehabilitation. In Maharashtra alone more than a
1000 tribal families will be faced with the possibility of losing all
their property and assets this monsoon itself.
The findings of the Committee have clearly proven the claims of NBA
in regard to the sorry state of resettlement being carried out by the
State. We demand that the report of the Committee be published and
made available for public consumption by the Government immediately.
It is imperative that the Government accepts the recommendations of
the Committee in toto and act on them immediately. Those already
affected, by submergence and dam related works should be resettled
right away. The Government should also appoint the second Committee
to review the cost - benefit of the Sardar Sarovar project for
Maharashtra as per its promise.
As the Committee has already suggested, until the recommendations are
implemented no further construction of the dam should be approved of
by the government of Maharashtra.
However, the people in the valley are willing to challenge the
callousness of the State and its machinery and are on Satyagraha at
three different parts of the Valley, to oppose the illegal and unjust
submergence being brought upon them by the already built dam.
The truth is crystal clear. The dam as it stands today is illegal and
is in total violation of all legal provisions and human norms. The
challenge is whether the governments and judiciary can admit their
folly and take a bold and truthful position that the lives of
thousands of people will be protected.
Clifton D'Rozario
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