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DAM-L LS: Submergence Water Enters Narmada Satyagraha Hut on August 16 (fwd)
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Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 11:54:27 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: LS: Submergence Water Enters Narmada Satyagraha Hut on August 16
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NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007
Telefax: 0265-282232.
Press Note/ August 20, 2001
Submergence Water Enters Narmada Satyagraha Hut on August 16
Satyagrahis Firm for 6 Hours: People Chase Away Police
The rising Narmada waters due to the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) entered
in the Satyagraha house for the first time this year at Domkhedi on the
16th of August, 2001 at midnight. But the Satyagrahis including Medha
Patkar, Dadlya Karbhari, Ulyabhai and other activists and village leaders
did not move out and stayed firm for over six hours in the knee-deep water,
as a mark of the resolve to oppose the unjust dam and displacement.
The Narmada waters were rising from 16th morning, due to the increased
construction upto 90 meters of the dam, which was further aggravated by the
release of large amount of water from upstream Bargi dam. The people in the
valley had already resolved not to move but to face the water and they
stayed firmly in the Satyagraha hut. The people also stopped the police
barges near Domkhedi and made them to retreat as they declared their
opposition to any sham act of 'rescuing and arresting' the satyagrahis,
without addressing the basic issues that led to the people to face the
submergence water.
The Submergence also wrecked destruction of houses and fields in the tribal
villages of Maharashtra and M.P.
Many people from adjacent villages joined the Satyagrahis at Domkhedi in
solidarity of their determination by singing songs and shouting slogans. On
the following day, August 17th, the water stopped rising and slowly started
receding. However, it is likely to rise again and an early submergence is
expected in the valley as more water is to be released from the Bargi dam,
as is learnt from the sources. According to the people in the plains of
Nimad (M.P) an alert had been sounded in the villages on the banks of the
Narmada in M.P, regarding such a possibility.
During the course of the rising of water the people, at the leadership of
headman, Dadlya Karbhari, Ulyabhai, the police patel and all the locals
resolved again not to move but to stand still if submergence were to come,
to protest against the injustice inflicted upon them.
Police Barges Stopped
In continuation of their August 14th declaration of 'Adivasi Self Rule'
(Hamare Gaum mein hamara Raj) in the valley, the people of the valley
confronted and turned away the police force, which had come in two huge
barges in the Khad river (a tributary of Narmada). Sensing that the police
were likely to arrest the Satyagrahis, the Adivasis decided to prevent the
police or any officials into their villages, unless they had something new
to talk regarding the Justice Daud Committee Report on Maharashtra
displacement which was released recently. The people blocked way of police
barges with their small boats (dungis) and two motorboats on 16th
afternoon. People were carrying mashals (torches) and were shouting
slogans. The Jeevan Shala children from Nimgavhan shouted at the police
from opposite bank, asking them to go back.
During the Satyagraha in the monsoon of 1999, the satyagrahis confronted
the submergence water three times. They were determined to face the unjust
submergence and were unmoved even in neck-deep water. The Maharashtra
police entered through barges in the villages and after much resistance,
arrested the Satyagrahis and kept them in the jail for over fifteen days.
This year, the Satyagrahis were determined to prevent the police and
arrests as it is used by the government to sidetrack the basic issues of
life and rights of the people.
Clifton D'Rozario
Joe Athialy
Sanjay Sangvai
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