Skip to main content

Activists' "fact-finding" tour of MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra to survey plight of 2.5 lakh Narmada dam oustees

NBA's Medha Patkar during the Samvaad Yatra 
By Our Representative
About 150 supporters from 15 states across India began their three-day Narmada Adhikar Samvaad Yatra, interacting with hundreds of Sardar Sarovar affected from Khalghat, Chhota Barda and Pipri. They observed “flawed backwater levels, corruption and lack of rehabilitation” against the backdrop of the decision of the Government of India to raise the Narmada dam. The anti-dam Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) said in a statement that the the intensive fact-finding tour will go to “various Sardar Sarovar Project affected villages in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat” and made a declaration at the end.
The team includes a hydrologist, environmentalists, farmer's leaders, trade unionists, lawyers, academics, researchers, architects, social work students, representatives of various social movements and organizations, as also some supporters from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Activists mainly consisted of representatives from the Polavaram Dam struggle, the Mahaan Sangharsh Samiti, the Kudankulam anti-nuclear struggle, and movements associated with National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM). A few environmentalists from Gujarat also participated.
The NBA statement, signed by its leader Medha Patkar and others, said, “The visit has been organised in the context of the recent illegal decision by the Narendra Modi government to increase the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam by 17 meters”. It claimed, this would “submerge the farms, homes and hearths of more than 2.5 lakh people living in 245 thickly populated affected villages.”
In their visit to village Khalghat (tehsil Dharampuri) in Madhya Pradesh, the Yatra participants observed how Khalghat and 55 other villages “suffered because of submergence”, and most of the families which faced the brunt were “poor workers and fisher people”, who faced submergence in the monsoon of 2012 and 2013.
“A large gathering of more than 500 people saw vibrant expression of support responding to the reality exposed by the oustees”, the statement contended, adding, “The support also came in from former MLA Panchilal Meda who admitted that not just in Khalghat but in numerous villages in the Dharmpuri area, thousands of families are yet to be rehabilitated.”
The statement said, “The women in particular, who were present in large numbers, expressed a resolution to intensify their struggle in the days to come. Similar was the situation in villages Chhota Barda and Pipri where rallies were organised and hundreds expressed their support to the legitimate demands of the NBA.” The team halted at the tribal village Mandil which is has been severely affected by the excavation by the Indira Sagar canals.
On August 24, a massive rally is scheduled to be organized at Badwani, where the people affected by submergence would participate. They will make a new declaration for the future course of action, the NBA said, adding, “On the third day the supporters would visit hilly adivasi village at Manibeli after a road and boat journey.”

Comments

TRENDING

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas*  November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.  

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor*  Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Campaign group urges INDIA alliance to release Jharkhand manifesto to counter BJP’s 'divisive' agenda

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, an advocacy group, has issued a press release urging the INDIA alliance to release a Jharkhand-specific manifesto to counter the BJP’s "divisive" electoral agenda. With just two weeks remaining before the assembly elections, the INDIA coalition has yet to announce its plans and priorities for the state. Meanwhile, the BJP's campaign, according to the press release, is centered around communalism, divisiveness, and distraction from Jharkhand's core issues.

Israel's 'war crime': 18,000 children died not just from bomb explosions but also starvation

By Sandeep Pandey*  Last year 6 years old Madiha was a guest during Diwali at our home in Lucknow. Listening to the sound of fire crackers bursting outside she remarked, ‘It appears as if we’re in Gaza.’ She has probably no idea of the extent of damage and loss of life that has taken place in Palestine but can relate to sound of crackers as bombs exploding over Gaza.

United organisations oppose privatisation of health services in Madhya Pradesh

By Our Representative  In a strong show of opposition, multiple health associations under the umbrella of the United Organisations for Action against Privatisation of Health Services have condemned the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s recent moves towards privatising public health facilities. They argue that these actions, including outsourcing and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will compromise the availability and accessibility of essential health services for the state’s citizens.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.