NARMADA ACTION ALERT: April 12, 2006
For more information about the Narmada Bachao Andolan visit 
http://www.narmada.org
Fw: initiativeindia
gmail.com
Current Status:
- The indefinite hunger strike by Medha Patkar and 4 other colleagues continues for the 14th day, in spite of arrest and hospitalization of Medha Patkar and Jamsingh bhai. Their health is deteriorating quickly, and our urgent action is critical.
- Team of 3 Union Ministers visited the Narmada valley on April 7th to assess the rehabilitation situation. Independent observers have reported that the Ministerial team was faced with numerous complaints about rehabilitation, and many families who got uncultivable land or only cash compensation. Even at the sites recommended by the officials, they found there were no water, no electricity, no sanitation, incomplete houses and no land for cultivation.
- However, after nearly 4 days, they haven't made a public report yet! We need to pressure the ministers and the Prime Minister to make a true report of what they observed, and take action based on that!
Immediate Action Required:
- A Flood of Phone calls and faxes to the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, and the 3 ministers, Saifuddin Soz (Water Resources), Meira Kumar (Social Justice!) & Prithviraj Chauhan (PM Office)
- Letters to Editors of major newspapers
- Those of you in Delhi could go to the respective Ministries and urge immediate action!
Phone Numbers, fax numbers and email addresses given at the end.
Talking Points:
- Ministers should immediately issue public report, and the report should reflect the exact truth of what the rehabilitation situation they saw.
- Why are they delaying? What was the purpose of their visit if they are not ready to share their report?
- They had promised to get back with some action by April 9th, and only then Medhaji will consider withdrawing the hunger strike. This was Medhaji's public stance.
- Dam construction should be immediately halted.
- Until rehabilitation is ensured meeting the full norms as prescribed by the Supreme Court, how can the construction happen? That is a violation.
- Water Resources Minister Mr. Soz is the chairman of Narmada Control Authority, and he has the authority to not permit the increase in height. Certainly the Prime Minister has the authority!
- On the day after the go-ahead was given by NCA on March 11th, Mr. Soz told the press, :"I am not at all satisfied with the resettlement and rehabilitation of the project-affected families... The clearance given by the resettlement and rehabilitation sub-group of the Narmada Control Authority to raise the dam height was premature." How can he not take action?
- Medha Patkar and Jamsinghbhai should be released from the confinement, so that they can interact with the public and media.
- Even the British did not arrest and whisk away Gandhiji when he was on fast!
- Is the government afraid that if the public and media witness Medha's fast, they will have to face the anger of the public?
Contact Information
From India: Use STD code 011 From abroad: Use (international dialing code)91-11-
Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh
Office: 23012312, 23013149, 23019545, 23016857 (Fax)
Home: 23018939, 23018668, 23015470, 23015603 (Fax)
Parliament: 23017660, 23019817, 23014255 (Fax)
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, leader of UPA, governing coalition
Office: 23014481, 23012656, 23018651 (FAX)
Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Minister of Water Resources
Office: 23714663, 23714200, 23710804 (Fax)
Home: 23782032, 23782034
Mrs. Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
Office: 23381390, 23381001, 23381902 (Fax)
Home: 26910618, 26910639
Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan
Office: 23010191, 23013719, 23017931 (Fax)
Home: 23013132, 23017839 (Fax)
Parliament: 23034963
Email Addresses of PM & Ministers
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secywel
chavanprithvirajLetters to the Editor
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