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dam-l LS: M.P. Government Accepts Most Demands of NBA : Fast Ends
Dear Friends,
The following Press Release gives the details of the withdrawal of the
Bhopal dharna and fast on the evening of 2 May 1999. Due to malfunctioning
of the email in Bhopal we were not able to send you this today.
Shripad (In New Delhi)
5.5.99
____________________________________________________
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Press Release 3 May 1999
M.P. Government Accepts Most Demands of NBA : Fast Ends : Independent
Committee To Review Maheshwar Project
The M.P. Government accepted a majority of the demands of the NBA and
issued formal Government orders related to the same yesterday evening.
Following this, the 26 days long dharna and 21 days long indefinite fast
was ended. As the Government refused to implement the recommendations of
its own Task Force related to the Maheshwar Project, an independent
committee was asked by the NBA to carry out these recommendations, namely,
a complete review of the economic cost/benefit analysis of the project, as
also of the displacement and the feasibility of rehabilitation. The
struggle on Maheshwar dam will continue.
The Government of M.P. today issued a six part order to formalise the
demands of the NBA that it had accepted. The details are as follows:
In the case of the gigantic Narmada Sagar Project, the Government has
agreed to stop immediately all work that would lead to increased
submergence this year. A review of the project will be carried out by
31.10.99 within the framework of the demand of Government of M.P. for the
appointment of the new Tribunal. This review will be carried out with the
participation of the project affected people, representatives of the
peopleís movements and experts.
In case of the Upper Veda and Lower Goi dams, where the construction has
not yet begun, it has been agreed that a complete alternative plans for
providing the same irrigation benefits in the proposed command area will be
prepared by a Committee of experts nominated by NBA. A similar plan will
also be prepared for decentralised energy / electricity generation in the
area. The Committee will be constituted by 31 May 1999 and will prepare
the plan in the next six months. Following this, the NBA, in association
with the Government will carry out the actual implementation of the plan in
about 20 villages in the area.
In case of Maan and Jobat projects, which are ongoing, all work that would
lead to submergence in this monsoon will be immediately stopped. A
Rehabilitation Committee including the representatives of the oustees would
be constituted to plan for the rehabilitation. Apart from other things,
this committee will ensure that the rehabilitation of all oustees will be
completed six months in advance of submergence. Formally, this is worded in
a way that any oustee likely to face submergence by construction carried
out upto 15 June of any year (when the monsoons begin) would have to the
rehabilitated by 31 December of the earlier year. This means that only that
much construction can be permitted as corresponds to the rehabilitation
achieved by 31 December.
It was also agreed that rules would be framed within two months for the
M.P. Project Affected (Rehabilitation of) Act of 1985, and the Act would
be made applicable to the Narmada Projects. It may be mentioned here that
this Act provides that the people receiving irrigation in the commands of
projects would have to give up part of their lands for the resettlement of
the Project Affected People. The Government would acquire the lands
compulsorily. This Act, though enacted in 1985, has not been implemented
till date - even after 14 years, as vested interests have not allowed even
the rules to be framed under the Act, without which it cannot be
implemented. The rules will be framed in consultation with the NBA and
other concerned parties.
Looking at the increased seismic activity in the Narmada Valley, it was
also agreed to revive the Task Force on ìSeismic Risks Related to Large
Dams in the Narmada Valleyî which had been constituted earlier, but which
had failed to take off. This Task Force will be asked to give its report by
31 October 1999.
It was also agreed to review the provisions of the Rehabilitation policy
which allows cash compensation to be given to the oustees in lieu of land
for land, which has been much abused in the past to virtually deny the
land-for-land provision. This review would examine the aspects of these
provisions that adversely affect or are likely to affect the ousteesí
interests.
The M.P. State Cabinet yesterday finally cleared three long pending
decisions regarding the Bragi dam resettlement. These were a part of the
demands of the latest action (fast) also. It was also agreed to review the
implementation of the decisions of the Bargi Dam Rehabilitation Planning
Committee (a joint Committee of the Government and NBA) which have been
taken over the last few years but have not yet been implemented, and the
implementation would be taken up within a month.
Regarding the Maheshwar Project, the Government, professing reasons of
commitments already made to the private company, refused to accept the
recommendations of the Task Force calling for a stoppage of work on the dam
and a complete review of the cost benefit of the project. The Task Force
has also recommended examination of the feasibility of the rehabilitation.
Some small concessions were sought to be made on the issue by the M.P.
Government. However, the Andolan decided that it was not interested in
minor demands when the fundamental issues remained pending. Hence, it
refused to accept the incomplete and trivial concessions that were made to
its demands and has given a call that the agitation in the Maheshwar area
will be intensified.
Since the Government was not willing to look at the cost /benefit of the
Maheshwar project, and other recommendations of the Task Force, the Andolan
has invited independent experts to form a committee and carry out these
recommendations of the Task Force. This committee includes Shri S.P. Shukla
, Former Member, Planning Commission, Shri Vijay Paranjpe, economist with
long experience related to damsí issue, and Shri Girish Sant, Energy Expert
and Member, Advisory Committee Of Central Electricity Regulatory Authority
(all in their personal capacity). The last two experts were also members of
the Task Force. Some other eminent experts may also be associated with the
committee soon.
The NBA has indicated that struggle in Maheshwar will be intensified as
also taken to the people of the State through the help of trade unions,
other peopleís movements. The people are determined to fight this project
till the end.
After the Government finally passed formal orders on the various demands,
NBA activist Chittaroopa Palit emerged and ended her fast by taking a small
amount of fruit juice at the hands of senior worker Shri Poonamchand from
Maheshwar area. All the others also ended their fast.
The Andolan re-iterates that the acceptance by the Government of a majority
of demands has been a big victory, and a new milestone in the struggle
against the large dams and for alternatives in the Narmada Valley. It is
hoped that the Government too will keep its words and implement the new
orders an open and transparent manner.
Alok Agarwaal,
For NBA