NBA DHARNA CONTINUES ON THE SEVENTH DAY IN FRONT OF WATER RESOURCES MINISTRY. MINISTER SAYS HE STICKS BY HIS STATEMENTS; HIS SECRETARY SAYS HE IS HELPLESS!
I n i t i a t i v e
Narmada Bachao Andolan
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- 62 Gandhi Marg, Badwani 451551, Madhya Pradesh. Ph: 07290-222464
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NBA DHARNA CONTINUES ON THE SEVENTH DAY IN FRONT OF WATER RESOURCES MINISTRY
MINISTER SAYS HE STICKS BY HIS STATEMENTS; HIS SECRETARY SAYS HE IS HELPLESS!
For the 7th consecutive day and night, the families affected by the Sardar
Sarovar Project have been sitting on indefinite dharna (sit-in) outside
the Ministry of Water Resources in New Delhi. Over 300 people are now
sitting in front of the Ministry, all day and all night, to demand that
the dam construction be halted immediately until full rehabilitation is
completed.
People from organizations and movements in Delhi and from around the world
are here at the dharna to provide support to the andolankaris who are
sitting in front of the Ministry. Several eminent persons such as Jst
Rajinder Sachar, noted journalist Kuldip Nayyar, Advocate Sanjay Parikh,
former Scheduled Tribes Commissioner Shri B.D. Sharma, socialist leader
and ex-MP Shri Surendra Mohanji, noted novelist Shri Kamleshwar, ex-MP and
President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association Mrs Suhasini
Ali, noted Hindi journalist Jitendra Kumar, veteran Gandhian Shri
Subbarao, and noted Members of Parliament (MPs) Shri Abani Roy, Shri Manoj
Bhattacharjee, Shri Baburao, Shri Vinod Kumar and others have stopped by
the dharna to pledge their support. Mrs Brinda Karat and Mrs Suhassini Ali
from the CPI(M) and members of the All India Democratic Women's
Association also stopped by to show their support.
Today, the people of the Valley commemorated Shaheed Diwas, Martyr's Day,
the 75th death anniversary of revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and
Rajguru. These young freedom fighters were hanged by the British regime
for their radical anti-imperialist. The people of the Valley were joined
by a street theatre group called Nishant who put up street plays about the
trio's times and tribulations.
Shri Baburao, an MP from Andhra Pradesh and a member of the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) raised a question about the Sardar Sarovar
Project during the Zero Hour of Parliament 2 days ago. An excerpt from his
strong statement is below:
“In view of the enormity of the human misery involved, it is time that the
Hon’ble Prime Minister himself to lead a Parliamentary Delegation to the
project site to assess the situation and halt construction pending the
visit and the appropriate follow up. Other points apart, first and fore
most is that the grievances and genuine apprehensions of thousands of
families have to be attended and resolved. I urge the Hon’ble Prime
Minister to respond generously to mitigate this human misery.”
Another question was also raised in the Parliament demanding answers from
the government on the issue of rehabilitation. We demand that the
government provide quick and satisfactory answers to these pertinent
questions BEFORE raising the height any further.
Yesterday, a delegation met with the Water Resources Minister. Prof. Soz
stated that he stands by his statements that rehabilitation has not been
done and that the clearance was premature. He said that he has sent
official communication to Gujarat is this regard, but is yet to receive a
response. However, his Secretary Shri Harinarayan who gave the clearance
as the Chairman of the Narmada Control Authority stated that he was
helpless. He said that even though the NCA opposes the cash compensation
being distributed in Madhya Pradesh, it has been accepted by the Grievance
Redressal Authority and by the Rehabilitation Sub-Group of the NCA. It
must be noted that this is the same GRA who has always interpreted the
Narmada Award to benefit the M.P. government, including his negative
position on the issue of both major sons and temporary displacement, both
of which were struck down by the Supreme Court in its verdict last year.
On March 20th, the adivasi (tribal) families met the Chairman of the
National Commission on Scheduled Tribes, who had visited the Valley in
April last year. At that time, the Chairman had held large meetings in the
submergence areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and in the
resettlement sites of Gujarat. Everywhere the message that rang loud and
clear was that rehabilitation had not been done and was ripe with
violations. The Chairman informed us that his report of last year’s visit
will be presented to the President of India in April. He was surprised
that the NCA had given clearance to raise the dam height when it was a
clear violation of the Supreme Court verdicts. We urge the Chairman to
issue a statement stating the non-compliance and lack of rehabilitation
that he saw in the Valley.
Additionally, in the evening on 21st of March, a meeting was held with
Members of Parliament who are concerned and sensitive to the issue. The
MPs pledged their support to the movement and promised to help in all
possible ways,
At present, the dharna continues in front of the Ministry. The men and
women of the Valley are determined to fight for their rights till the end.
PLEASE JOIN US. ALSO PLEASE WRITE to the Water Resources Minister, Prof
Saifuddin Soz and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh (details below).
ATTACHED is a document with all the recent facts.
Ashish Mandloi, Sitaram Patidar, Pinjaribai, Mohan Patidar, Madansingh
Rukhdusingh, Dipti Bhatnagar, Chetan Salve, Clifton Rozario, Medha Patkar
CONTACTS:
Prof Saifuddin Soz
Minister of Water Resources
Shramshakti Bhavan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
Ph: 011-23714200
Fax: 011-23710804
Residential phone and fax: 011- 23782032
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office, South Block, New Delhi
Ph: 011- 23016857, 23012312
Fax: 011- 23019545, 23016857
Res: 011- 23015603
CONTACT NUMBERS AT DHARNA SITE:
Medha- 09869446684
Dipti- 09879536407
Pushparaj- 09312754460
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