NBA Action Alert
URGENT PRESS RELEASE
Narmada Bachao Andolan
62 M.G. Marg, Badwani, Madhya Pradesh 451551. Ph: 07290-222464
c.o B-13 Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Vadodara, Gujarat 390023/
Ph: 0265-2282232
Maitri Niwas, Tembewadi, Dhadgaon, dist Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
Ph: 02595-220620
March 9, 2006
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN IS SHOCKED AND PAINED! WE CONDEMN THE NCA'S APPROVAL TO RAISE SARDAR SAROVAR DAM HEIGHT BY 12 METRES!
NBA CHALLENGES THE GOVT TO FLOOD FULLY POPULATED VILLAGES AND TO THREATEN THE LIVES OF 35,000 FAMILIES!
The Narmada Control Authority (NCA), as per a press statement issued by authorities in Bhopal, has accorded its approval to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from 110.64 metres to 121.92 metres, i.e., by 22 metres. This has been done under great secrecy, without checking the ground level situation, and is in serious violation of the Narmada Tribunal Award and Supreme Court verdicts from 2000 to 2005.
As per official figures and statements, there are 24,421 families affected in 177 villages of Madhya Pradesh, who are affected between the heights of 110 and 121 metres. The fertile lands, houses and all properties, including schools, dispensaries, shops, etc, of these villages will be flooded and submerged. In addition, there are hundreds whose names have been left out of official lists. There are at least another 10,000 families affected under the height of 110 metres including about 2000 in the adivasi villages of Maharashtra and a few hundred in Gujarat. All of these are eligible for rehabilitation strictly as per the policies. This was all supposed to be done 6 months before submergence. The families who have shifted to the resettlement sites in Gujarat and Maharashtra too are yet to receive their due entitlements. To evict them and flood them out of their villages forcibly is indeed a criminal massacre of living vibrant communities.
It is much more startling and painful to know that the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), which is the apex monitoring body sanctioned by the Narmada Tribunal Award itself, has praised the rehabilitation work of the government of Madhya Pradesh. This is a political gimmick and is not based on any ground level investigation. The R&R Sub-Group of NCA has not visited the valley since November 2000, i.e., for over 5 years now!
A letter written by Shri S. Soz, Central Water Resources Minister to Shri LC Jain just 2 days ago states that all the authorities will assess the records, reports and will take the necessary consultations before approving any raise in the height. Two days later, all of that seems to have been done and clearance granted!
The Action Taken Reports (ATRs) of the state governments are false and show all the families as rehabilitated. But how communities be rehabilitated on totally uncultivable and encroached or even non-existent land? This has happened only on paper. Meanwhile, the cash compensation disbursed in lieu of land and house plots is contempt of the Supreme Court itself. It has also lead to rampant corruption of crores of rupees, which is being constantly exposed by the NBA. In 2004, 37 officials in Badwani were suspended and the CAG report recently published has found corruption and misappropriation of Rs. 5.63 crores.
The adivasis, farmers and all those organised to fight for their right to life and true development, are determined to intensify their battle at every battlefield, against such inhuman assault. An application has already been filed in the Supreme Court by about 50 petitioners of several villages of M.P., but it yet to come up for hearing. Meanwhile, after a 'hungama' in the Gujarat Assembly, the BJP governments of M.P., Gujarat and Rajasthan have pressurised the Congress government at the Centre and in Maharashtra. The canals in Gujarat too are not ready as per the former Narmada Minister, Jay Narayan Vyas, who stated that the canals needed to be completed before the dam height was raised any further.
HENCE, WE SERIOUSLY CONDEMN THE DECISION TAKEN BY NCA. THE PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY RESOLVE TO STRUGGLE AT EVERY LEVEL AGAINST THIS INJUSTICE!
Gaindiyalal, Kamla Yadav, Madan Rukhdusingh, Deven Tomar, Rukmini Patidar, Hukum Jat, Lankabai Pokhar, Rukhdibai, Sajjanbai, Ashish Mandloi, Umesh Patidar, Medha Patkar
For protest e-mail, phone calls and faxes you can use the following addresses:
Chairman of R&R subgroup of the NCA
Address C. Gopal Reddy,
Chairman, R&R Sub-Group of NCA,
Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Shastri Bhavan,
New Delhi-1
Phone +91-11-23382683; +91-11-23385180
Prime Minister of India
Address Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
7, Race Course Road,
New Delhi - 110 001
Fax +91-11-23016857, +91-11-23019545 (PM Office)
+91-11-23015603 (PM residence)
Phone +91-11-23018668, +91-11-23015470 (Residence) +91-11-23012312, 23018939 (Office) +91-11-3016996 (Joint Secretary of PM)
+91-11-3018939 (Personal Secretary of PM)
Email manmohan
sansad.nic.in OR
Email to PM at 
http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Address Shri Sushilkumar Shinde,
Chief Minister,
Mantralaya, Mumbai,
Maharashtra - 400 023
Phone +91-22-23633051; +91-22-2364950; (Residence)
+91-22-22025151; +91-22-22025222; (Office)
Fax +91-22-23633272, +91-22-22029214
Email chiefministermaharashtra.gov.in
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhavan
Madhya Pradesh
Fax +91-755-2540501; +91-755-2551781
Phone +91-755-2441581; +91-755-2441033; (ministry)
+91-755-2540500, 2540361, 2540503, 2540564 (residence)
Email cmmpchiefminister.com OR cmmp.nic.in
Pradeep Bhargava, Vice Chairman of NVDA
+91-755-2431258 (Residence)
+91-755-2556950 (Office)
Personal Assistant to CM +91-755-551433 (Office)
Smt. Meena Singh (Minister of Tribal Development) +91-755-2441006 (Office)
+91-755-2440255 (Home)
For more information please visit http://www.narmada.org/
2006 | narmada | www.agp.org (archives) | www.all4all.org