As you might know, nearly 150 adivasis (tribals) affected by the Maan Dam in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India have been engaged in an indefinite sit-in in Bhopal, the capital city, since 15 May 2002.
Four activists from the group went on an indefinite hunger strike on 20 May 2002. Please take action - pressure the government of Madhya Pradesh to respond to the demands of the protestors as the hunger strike enters the eighth day.
The Maan dam is one of the 30 large dams planned as part of the Narmada Valley Development Project (NVDP). It is under construction on the river Maan that drains into the Narmada River.
In 1994, the Central Environment Ministry granted environmental clearance for the project, on the condition that the affected adivasis must be resettled with non-forest agricultural land. Contrary to this, the Maan dam-affected people were given a pittance in cash compensation without being offered land-for-land compensation or information about their legal entitlements.
The 17 affected villages will be submerged this monsoon (June to September) without any rehabilitation. Tree felling and dismantling of local schools has started in the area despite protests from the local communities.
The affected people have demanded an immediate halt to tree felling and police presence in the submergence zone. They have demanded a stop to construction and other dam related activities until the 1000 adivasi families are given adequate agricultural land and until rehabilitation is satisfactorily completed.
As the indefinite hunger strike enters the eighth day, the response of the government of Madhya Pradesh has been very poor.
Your support, as always, is invaluable. Send faxes/emails to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh to urge him to respond to the demands of the protestors struggling for their basic human right to life and livelihood.
In solidarity,
Malavika Vartak
South Asia Campaigns
International Rivers Network
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SAMPLE LETTER
The Honourable Mr. Digvijay Singh,
Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhavan, Bhopal
Phone: 91 755 540503
Fax: 91 755- 540501
Email: cm
mp.nic.in
Dear Mr. Digvijay Singh,
We are writing to you in reference to the ongoing protest and indefinite hunger strike in Bhopal by the Maan dam-affected persons.
We understand that there is less than a month left until the monsoon submergence and little or no possibility of rehabilitating the 17 affected villages. However, the 1994 Central Environment Ministry clearance for the Maan Project was given on the condition that affected tribal families are rehabilitated on non-forest agricultural land.
As the hunger strike enters the eighth day, we strongly urge you to respond positively to the demands of the protestors and stop all construction activity on the dam until rehabilitation is provided on a land for land basis. We also urge you to engage in meaningful dialogue with the affected people to ensure protection of their basic human right to life and livelihood.