narmada | archives of global protests

JOIN THE SATYAGRAHA IN NARMADA VALLEY TO START FROM JULY 15
Wed, 14 Jun 2000

NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007 * 58, Gandhi Marg, Badwani, M.P.

JOIN THE SATYAGRAHA IN NARMADA VALLEY TO START FROM JULY 15

Once again, the Narmada valley will be facing the submergence and displacement in the Monsoon of 2000. Once again the people in the villages are gearing themselves up for a Satyagraha, non-violent mass action, against the imposed submergence.

The height of the dam was at 88 meters in the last year's monsoon, as was decided by the Supreme Court in 1999. Last year, despite the scanty rains, the swirling backwaters of the dam had destroyed hundreds of farms and houses in the villages in Maharashtra and Alirajpur tehsil of Madhya Pradesh. The water has entered in the Satyagraha places of Domkhedi, Jalsindhi, Piplachop, Sikka and Bharad where the people confronted the waist and chest deep submergence waters. On August 21, 1999, the Satyagrahis in Domkhedi did not move out even when the the menacingly increasing water came upto their lips. The Satyagraha in 1999 has shown that the people and activists of Andolan are ready to confront the submergence to save the valley from the destruction.

The Satyagraha generated the spirit of Narmada struggle all over the country; hundreds of activists, youths from various parts of country converged at Satyagraha places during the monsoon of 1999; many programmes were held supporting the struggle in various cities and towns all over India. The " Valley for ralley" by the outside supporters was a landmark occassion, creating a new awakening about the issues. Supporting organisations held a " Narmada Samarthan Yatra" ( Solidarity March) from Kanyakumari to Delhi, in July, 1999 and met the President of India to make him aware of the basic issues that the Andolan has been raising. The President also has referred to the Narmada Satyagraha as the new awakening of the youth in India. The Prime Minister too has written a letter to NBA acknowledging the gravity of the issues.

Meanwhile, the Governments continued their efforts to displace the people by hook or crook, and file false affidavits regarding resettlement in the Supreme Court. The attempts were made to whitewash the larger reality, by creating some 'model sites' for the tourists. However, the basic issues regarding the land availability, infrastructure, the rights, natural resources and livelihood remained unanswered. The people are also have been questioning the false claims made by the governments in the court, proving that the government could not resettle fully the people hitherto displaced. The people from the resettlement sites in Maharashtra and Gujarat too have joined with the people in the valley in exposing the false claims of the governments.

The Supreme Court completed the final hearing of the public interest writ petition filed by the Narmada Bachao Andolan on May 9, 2000. The petition against the dam and displacement was admitted in the Court on May 20, 1994. The Court, in the last leg of final hearing, heard the arguments about the environmental and other issues raised by the Andolan and did not confine it to the resettlement issue. Meanwhile, the court has asked the government of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to establish the Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRAs) on the lines of Gujarat government. The GRAs were told to ascertain whether the resettlement till this time in the respective states has been according to the Narmada Dispute Tribunal's(NWDT) provisions and secondly, the land availability for the remaining oustees and whether the resettlement of these oustees would be possible according to NWDT.

On this backdrop of constant struggle and challenge to the displacement and submergence, the height of the dam remained the same this year. However, though the height remains the same, last year the rains were below average. This year the average rainfall would bring in the greater submergence than that of last year. There would be more destruction of houses and farms during this monsoon. The people have decided to challenge the imposition of unjust submergence, displacement by the government and demand for the complete review of the dam. They will be observing the monsoon-long Satyagraha again this year- the Satyagraha 2000, which will be launched on July 15, at Jalsindhi, Domkhedi and other villages in the valley. The details of the Satyagraha will be announced on the first day in the valley itself. This time also, along with the struggle we will also pursue the constructive work ( navnirman), surveying with the villagers the resources of the adivasi area, with village mapping and participating in the daily village chores or in the work of the people's school ( jeevanshala) .

Once again the struggle is round the corner and at this decisive hour, we wish you to be with us, as comrade-in-arms, friends and witness to this non-violent assertion of the rights of the people of this country. The people in the Narmada valley once again call unto you to join in the Satyagraha and strengthen the resistance in the valley against the displacement and destitution. The Narmada movement is one of the major efforts in India to call into question the prevalent development policies and paradigm and chart out an alternative course. The struggle in the valley is a joint endeavour of us all against the repression and destruction in the name of development.

Please come to the Satyagraha will be launched from 12.00 a.m. in the noon on July 15, 2000. Along with the people affected by the SSP, the affected persons by canals, colony, sanctuary for the project and the people affected by the Maheshwar, Narmada Sagar, Veda, Goi and Bargi dams in the Narmada valley would also be joining the Satyagraha. We appal to the activists of organisations, youths, affected people from various 'development' projects and other pro-people experts, citizens to reach at Baroda or Badwani till the afternoon of 14th July.

We call unto you to be partner in this common struggle to protect the right to life, respurces and democratic values.

 Noorji Padvi      Luvariya Shankariya
 Bawa Mahariya     Keshav Vasave
 Dedli Bai         Prabhubhai Tadvi
 Rasik Gajanan     Balibehn Tadvi
 Jagannath Patidar Devram Kanera
 Mohan Patidar     Kamala Yadav
 Mukesh Jat Karuna Kailash Awasiya
 Clifton Shobha    Pravin Shivshankar
 Nandini Oza       Alok Agrawal
 Dr. Sugan Baranth And other comrades....

To reach the Satyagraha place come to Baroda or Badwani and contact at NBA offices the addresses are given at the end. As it would be the rainy season, come with the required protection, strong shes/chappals and lighter belongings. If needed bring mosquito repellants and with some necessary medicines, torch etc.

To reach Domkhedi/ Jalsindhi, please take bus from Baroda bus station towards Kadipani via Kavant . From Kavant proceed by bus/ private vehicle to Kadipani. From Kadipani, Hapheshwar, on the banks of Narmada is 8 Kms. Either proceed on foot or wait for the NBA vehicle at the last bus stop in Kadipani. From Badwani. take a bus to Chhota Udepur. From there to Kavant-Kadipani and rest as above.

B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007 Phone: 0265-382232; :email: nba@bnpl.com

58, Gandhi Marg, Badwani, M.P.Ph. 07290-22464.Email: nobigdam@bom4.vsnl.net.in)


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