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dam-l Samachar Opinion Poll on SSP Height Increase
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S A M A C H A R O P I N I O N P O L L 1 2
SHOULD THE HEIGHT OF THE NARMADA DAM BE INCREASED ?
Respondents: 1276 (as of Sun, 10 am IST)
Yes: 788 (61.8%)
No: 369 (28.9%)
Can't Say: 98 ( 7.7%)
A sample of the comments received from readers on the Narmada issue
are given below. These have not been edited.
VOICE YOUR OPINION at http://www.samachar.com
SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK to opinions@samachar.com
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55: Tarun Bhartiya UK: All those saying yes, please relocate to some
godforsaken place or have the corporations divert the local water
pipes put through your bedrooms. I think we the urban types shouldnot
be shameless to ask for lakhs of indigenous people to sacrifice their
habitats, so that we can use electric shavers and huge air
conditioners. So YES PEOPLE, tomorrow i am coming to your houses with
bulldozers, have sleepless nights.
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54: Paddy Dubai: From personal experience I know in the name of
environmental protection lot of developmental work has been hampered.
Without irrigation facilities and without power generation standard of
living of vast majority of our population does improve. Increased
agriculture production is required. Manufacturing sector should grow
for employment generation. And these so called environmentalist are
not bothered abouy the big picture as long as they get their picture
in the newspapers. Press is also playing in to their hands by giving
extraordinary publicity. Regarding the rehabilitation of affected
persons, I am sure it will be done. If not, not only the so called
environmentalists but everyone of us should join the fight for
justice. Many developed countries do not like to see India becoming
self reliant. They have vested interests to keep India dependent on
outside agencies. And they don't mind spending a bit of money for
these so called environmentalists to play the role on thier behalf.
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53: Angela India: Progress is always welcome, provided we look at the
hazards we may be causing to life and the already battered
environment. Let the people who will be affected by it decide.
Thankfully, we do have some people who care about the environment. But
I do not support the raising of the dam wall because there is no
reason given as to why it should be raised. Politicians, please at
least leave the environment alone!!!
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52: Makarand Sane Singapore: Increase the height upto the height of
Himalayas. Let all the poor villagers get drowned under the
flood....Let somebody benefit & the poor perish..... Since
independence its happening in India. Lets continue the practise.
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51: Arvind Varadkar Malaysia: Since the reports says that dam is
reality and no way going back, well in that case I say go for increase
in height of the dam because this is the only opportunity to do the
job. We cannot afford to do this kind of major project again again.
Let us do a complete job now for better future of the country.
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49: Aravinda India: Dear Editor,
Please get the facts straight
1. agitating against the project have been the people of Narmada, not
only `social activists` and `environmentalists`
2. Rajasthan has nothing to do with Sardar Sarovar. keep it out.
3. acres of forests to be lost is thousands, not hundreds
4. number of people to be displaced is lakhs, not thousands
5. judiciary has given much credence to defenders of narmada in the
past, as the dam was halted for 4 years on the basis of their petition
in Supreme Court. It is only now that the provisions of Narmada Water
Disputes Tribunal are being violated.
6. parched lands of Kutch and Saurashtra will get NO water from this
dam.
There are NO plans for water supply either by Sardar Sarovar Nigam or
by GUjarat govt or any district level govt. no govt even claims that
water will reach these areas (though they had claimed so in early
days) to other readers those who have some hope that rehabilitation
might be done need only look at the history not only of all those
already displaced in Sardar Sarovar project but in Tehri dam, Bargi
dam, and other large projects in Indian history.
Instead of saying go ahead with this dam and do the resettlement, why
not say, first complete resettlement of all other displaced before
even thinking about displacing any more. regarding `benefits` much of
the power generated by the dam will be used to operate the dam. Power
generation will slowly come to an end as water generation increases.
this water will go first and foremost to the 24 new sugar cane
factories that have been given license in the early reaches of the
canals in exchange for major investment in the dam. Chairman of Sardar
Sarovar Nigam himself has investments on two of these factories.
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47: Anoop Patnaik USA: Life of dams are being drasticaly being cut
because of silting. So take measures like planting trees ,prevent
illigal forest specialy in the hills while provideing alternate fuel
to locals who fell them etc.. to prevent silt from clogging up dams
besides raising dams.
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46: Prasanna Kirtani USA: Every step in any development project has
costs associated with it. The Sardar Sarovar project is no exception.
The cost-benefits should be weighed and appropriate steps taken to
make it a win-win situation. the villagers SHOULD NOT have to bear the
cost of industrialization and should be re-habilitated and compensated
for.
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44: Ganesh India: Increasing the height of the dam and proper
compensation to the villagers is two different issues. What is lacking
in India is proper infrastructure like power, road, communication etc.
While we appreciate the concern she has for the people, she should not
be road block for the development. I do agree that people dislocated
should be compensated properly but their hardship should not be a sole
factor for this. Unfortunately who people will have to undergo through
this for benefit of the entire nation.
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43: Niraj Keswani Canada: I think the so called "Medha Patkars" are
just in the process of earning a name for themselves.. One has to look
into the macro aspect and with a long term objective. India and
Indians have been too restrictive in their approach which has led to
the fact that we have valuable land un-cultivated and lack of potable
water. While on one hand my heart goes out for the displaced Indians,
but towards the growth of a nation, sacrifices have to be made just as
the case for growth in the family.
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41: Karan Dua USA: Yes. When its known that raising the height shall
facilitate the availability of water in prime dry desert areas, then
why there is a second thought?
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40: Jatin Patel USA: Profit and benefits claimed by water utilized,
extra agricultural GDP, environment friendly hydro electricity would
definately justify the project. Any procrastination in the
implementation of this project is myopia of Indian politicians at
Centre.
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38: Vincent USA: Yes, The National Interest requires that the height
should be the maximum height allowed by the laws of NATURE and
UNIVERSE. The porvincial political interests and the religiously
phenetic beliefs of the environmentalists or naturalists should be
tempered by the laws of very `NATURE` they worship. This benefits the
HUMAN and the NATIONAL and the NATURAL and the ENVIRONMENTAL
interests.
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37: N.Desai USA: I don't understand why do these so called 'tribals'
want to remain as tribals? Why do they still want to live as tribals?
The so called 'tribals' are ruining their forest anyway by cutting
down trees for fuel and killing the wildlife for their food. The
tribal community should know that their forest cannot sustain forever
to support them with fuel and food. Move on. If the tribals are
protesting for better displacement, then I support them. But please do
not halt any development work of our nation which has already costed
dearly to our external debt. Narmada project would had been completed
in 70's under few hundred crores, but because of several halts forced
by protestors, this project is turning out to be several thousands of
crores and it is still not yet complete. If the protesters want to
save Mother Narmada, then they should think about how to save the
sacred Narmada waters from being wasted into the sea. This `Narmada
Bachhao Andolan` should develop a positive attitude and understand how
to find a solution without hurting our National progress. Getting
excited won't solve any problem. There were several villages in the
past that got displaced due to developments in Godavari, Mahanadi,
Koyna etc.. And overall it has shown that dams are always good for our
Nation. If you want to protest, fine. but please donot forcibly halt
any work in progress (it helps no one). || Namaamii devii Narmade ||
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35: Ajay Bhatia India: Once the height was fixed to 80 meters. People
were displaced and all the complaints of poor compensation...
followed. Now increase the height by 5-10 meters more and scare the
people who must have moved to the safer areas once again. People there
must be living under a constant fear of permanent displacement and all
this depends not on their will, but a judgement from people who might
be having their vested interests. Whatever, I feel there is not much
point in increasing the height of the dam. Why can't we take decisions
once!
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34: Kaushali Dave India: To all those who say 'yes' - do you have a
reason for it besides the notion that it will help in development?
Development has to be sustainable in the long run and how does one
account for the forests lost or the people displaced? Besides, we
don't even know the life of the dam. Is it really worth having extra
height when it threatens our natural wealth? Think about all this and
the costs and benefits of the dam - we shouldn't blindly agree to
anything that appears to be developmental. This message is not about
anti-development but about sustainable development.
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33: Milind Shah USA: We should increase the size of the dam to prosper
the desert area of Kutch. The displaced villagers can be rehabiliated.
The problem is the implementation and not the dam.
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32: Mohammed Mujahid Ahmed Saudi Arabia: In my opinion the height of
the dam should be increased if it is going to help the poor villagers.
What ever may be the project, it should be always kept in mind that it
benefits the poor. First of all, the villagers should be given
alternative accommodation. Secondly, appropriate steps should be taken
to save hundreds of acres of prime forest land and then the Sardar
sarovar project should be completed.
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28: Venkat Krishnan USA: There is no way ever that the poor villagers
will be compensated for the damage done by the dam. It is of interest
to note that the Narmada has been dammed incredible number of times,
and on the last occasion, the villagers bore the brunt of the entire
process. The relocation and compensation was miserably inadequate for
the farmers of that region. Over 300 villages were submerged at that
time and considerable farmland was lost. Such grand adventures cause
innumerable hardships to larger number of people than the benefits
accruing to the urban few. I would like to see the middle and upper
classes in the cities evicted from their homes, and left in the lurch
in the pretext of a huge project. We will see how much hoarse they
will cry when such a thing happens.
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27: Renukswamy G Bidnurmath USA: I think these environmentalists and
social activists have no other good work to do. It is because of such
foolish activists that India, today, is in a poor state. These guys
don't want atomic power and don't want Hydel power then what else they
want ? They are the major obstacles in the countries modernization.
They must learn to live with the new technology, rather than being an
obstacle to the growth of the country. Since these guys don't
feel/face any power cuts / water shortage in the country....They don't
care about it. Let them face the problems then they will understand
whether we must make use of the available resources and technology. It
is true that we must leave the future generation in a better
environment. But to do so the current generation need not suffer !
They have the right to live in a healthy environments, without being
denied of the current technology benefits.
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26: Praveen Bhalchandra Karanjkar India (presently USA): I am sure the
answer should be verified with the technicians for the feasibility and
safety. If they are confident then the height of the dam must be
increased since that part of the country is a desert area. Narmada is
one of the only two rivers going towards west side in India and hence
the only source of water for that part of India. As far as Medha
Patkar's agitation is concerned she should consider it as successful
if Indian Government takes care of the displaced people. It will be a
win-win situation in that case.
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25: Srinivas Yodtare USA: The height should not be increased as it
causes lot of environmental damages. As already only 17% of our land
is under green belt (that too most of it in north east) we should take
action which are environmentally friendly. Small dams can give water ,
electricity generation and are environmentally safe too. I don't
understand why engineers are quiet in this issue. They should debate
it openly in news paper and catch more attention of public.
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23: Bhushit Joshipura India: Go to Saurashtra in any season and see
yourself. In summer you don't get a glass of water when you order tea.
Water is sold at high prices. Water from the reservoir is also going
to North Gujarat. There you can afforest the land and fight Thar
desert.
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21: Prof.Pravin Sheth USA: Narmada Dam is a dam with a difference. It
has taken care of environmemtal problems including catchment area
treatment,canal lining,growing 60-plus trees per every tree
felled,alternative sanctury,etc.Its R and R package is the most
liberal and humane in the Third World.More than 7,500 PAPs are
well-resettled accoding to independent evalution agencies like
Css,Surat.Longitudinal studies bring out that PAPs,discontented in the
initial phase of resettlement, are increasingly upwarding satisfaction
index.Their income is significantly increased, with
irrigated,diversified crop-patter.No where displaced persons have got
received more than 5 acres of good land, with
irrigation,education,etc. If the height of the Dam is increased, more
arid lands including in Rajasthan will get benefits.Tribal aeras in MP
will get power to light their homes and run cottage industr.We are
energy-starved.Increased Dam height will help meet this problem to
that extent.NBA are negativists.Most of their objections are proved
misleading and false.Rather their obstuctionst tactics have escalated
its costs from Rs.6,700 to more than 25,000, and causing Gujarat every
day Rs 8 cr.Maximum use of this only unpolluted river of India be
assured.--Prof.Pravin Sheth
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20: Sujal Patel (From USA) India (Gujarat,Ahmedabad): To the people
who say yes to narmada dam' hight to be increase -- I think you guys
don't know what is going in the India. It is already too much late for
dam to finish and now increase the hight. So they could corrupt more
and more. I think they should just finish it now.
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19: Madhukar Deshpande India: When hundreds of villages are being
submerged in what is considered development of the nation, one maxim
must be scrupulously observed: The people whose land is being
submerged must, by a referendum, be consulted before such project is
approved.
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16: N. Desai USA: I agree that some land will be submerged at the
expense of increasing the height of the dam. But, If you are not able
to increase the height, then the chances for water to reach the desert
prone Kutch and Saurashtra reduces drastically. This will undermine
the purpose of having this dam at the first place which is to have
minimal amount of life-supporting water wasted into the sea. From what
I know, the desert area in Kutch is spreading at a very fast pace due
to lack of water. And if we don't take action now then probably, this
growing desert will eat up even larger forests than the one we are
trying to save now. Some actions will be painful but if taken now will
prevent the permanent pain in the future. No gains without pains.
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15: Jawahar Kambhampati USA: Well, there is a saying - 'one persons
food may be poison to the other'. If the height of the Dam increased,
may be useful to the formers of Karnataka, but at the cost of formers
in Andhra Pradesh and vise versa. But do any one really considering
interest of The Former? A Former is a former where ever he is, whether
in Karnataka or in A.P or some where else. Yes, the height of the dam
may be increased to the optimum level, at the interest of the formers
community but not to the interest of politicians. Is it possible to
keep their hands off in any contravertial matters, I'm optimist, so do
India, longlive my motherland..
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11: Venkat Yerneni USA: There is no use in increasing the height of
the dam except for power generation. We will lose millions of acres of
fertile land. There is no land available for rehabilitation. We are
uprooting the very livelihood of many tribals. Will all the users who
are supporting the dam exchange their prime properties in Ahmedabad
for the people who have been evicted ? In the USA where big dams are
being dismantled we are still going for big dams which favor only
contractors and the corrupt politicians.
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10: Manu USA: One reason why Our land will not prosper is because of
this 60+gandhians and other environmentalists. I wonder why our Ganges
and Pamba in Sabarimala, which are so dirty, don't get the attention
of these environmantalists! These people just love to live with what
the oldies said. ignore them.......These gandhians are so concerned
about everything, But G I wonder why the various socio-economic evils
still exist in our land..... So, Forget about them! If a Dam helps in
the effort to make India strong, go for it baby......Hunger strikers,
let them do it..after all they are just dieting!!
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9: nikhil shah india: Large dams are not sustainable. Even a simple
economist will be able to inform us that the cost benefit ratio dont
work. The cost of the dam has far far exceeded its benefits. And
benefits for a chosen few. Also there is hardly any progress in
rehabilitation of the project affected people. Economically,
seismographically, socially improper.
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8: Rajan Koshy USA: Since the dam is a reality, the nation should get
the maximum benefit from it - so the height should be raised. However,
the displaced persons should be well provided for. Also, the
government should try to make up for the lost forests by increasing
forestation elsewhere
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7: Manish Vaja U S: I will support Gujarat Govt. The reason is that
Mega patkar and other so called leader are fake. They are just small
selfish creture who want build their political carrier on this issue.
If they really want to do some creative why don't they fight with
Maharastra Govt or Madhya pradesh Govt or Rajastan Govt. Reason is
clear. Maharastra is their own state they are benifited out of Narmada
project. Second Rajastan is poorest state NO leader would like to bag
to poor state. Only two states are remaining Madhay pradesh and
Gujarat. In M P Congress is the Govt so she want like to fight against
them. She is purely Congress Triggered Goat who don't know his
desitny. Now only one state is remaining which is Rich that is
Gujarat. So she is fighting against that state. For Indians, we hardly
do some constructive work. But we are always ready for destructive
work. It is vary easy not go for dam. It is vary diffucult to create
10 Meter Dam. It is the most diffucult to creat 90 Meter Dam. If she
Know some technology to creat this big dam or she has some project
management skill then she has right to say anything about this Narmada
Project. Only protest is not good. Is there any concreat idiea behind
not creating the so called Dam. She does not have any Plans for
supplying water to Indian village. Manish Vaja
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6: Madhu Agarwal India: Narmada Bachao Andolan is a definite stop on
the progress of the country. Can there be any comprasion of the amount
of prosperity it going to bring to the people of the area and the
inconvience it is going to cause. I know some people may think that my
views are anti poor but all those who come in the way of progress are
anti poor.We are poor today only because we come in the way of
progress just to become popular.Just imagine the amount of prosperity
the dam will bring,won't the poor benefit the most??DON'T COME IN THE
WAY OF THE POOR BY OPPOSING IT.
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5: Harry India: The height of the dam must be increased. Narmada
Bachaoo Andholan is a BS organisation which never looks at the
country's prosperity backed by self interested people. The advantage
of the dam far out weighs the disadvantages and looking at it I feel
one should go for it.
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4: Prakash P. Patel India: By increasing the height of Narmada Dam the
water will be reached to the ends of Gurjrat (e.g.Kutch) this will be
benifited to increase agricultural technology. this will promote
farming to forthcomming generation. Because of lac of water the new
generation is diverting from agricultural to other business/servises.
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3: MUGUNTHAN S. INDIA: Why debate on whether to increase or decrease
the dam height while we have an insensitive, impotent govt. catering
to the powerful rich minority and ignoring the resoruceless poor. i
had personally spent few days at the dam site, more so at the
rehabilitation site... and has seen for my own eyes how unsustainable
these maga projects are... not to say about the inefeectual
rehabilitation programme of the govt.. which inculded extending cash
for annexing the lands of the farmers which results only in people
frittering all the money given to them and become wage labourers in
non-farm activities... increaseing heigh of the dam is only going
worsen the displacement scenario... of the rural poor... afterall we
know for sure that these dons of democracy (politicians) are nothing
but a bunch of jokers..
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2: Akshay Patel U.S.A: The project it was designed long back but
because of the selfish policy of the congress government for 45 years
towards state of the Gujarat, we could not finished in the time and
also lost billions of rupees. The most important things that after
spending time and money we are still not enjoying the fruits. The main
reason for this is that we do not have good and strong leader in the
Gujarat who can represent in the New Delhi.
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VOICE YOUR OPINION at http://www.samachar.com
SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK to opinions@samachar.com
note new e-mail: amittal@foodfirst.org
---------------
Anuradha Mittal
Policy Director
Institute for Food and Development Policy - Food First
398 60th Street, Oakland, CA 94618 USA
Phone: (510) 654-4400 Fax: (510) 654-4551
http://www.foodfirst.org