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dam-l LS: SSP Waters Within 3 Meters of Domkhedi Satayagrah Site



NBA Press Release -- 20, July 1999

SSP WATERS ONLY THREE METERS BELOW THE SATYAGRAHA PLACE IN THE NARMADA VALLEY

SATYAGRAHIS RESOLVED TO FACE THE SUBMERGENCE

According to the latest information (noon of 20th July, 1999), the
backwaters of the Sardar Sarovar Project in Narmada Valley have been rising
rapidly and have reached only 3 meters (10 feet) in elevation from the
Domkhedi Satyagraha site. The people in the satyagraha sites in Domkhedi
and Jalsindhi villages are determined to face the waters of unjust
submergence. Over the last two days, fields in villages like Surung,
Bharad, Ankadiya, and Jalsindhi in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been
submerged. The people at both the places are determined to face the
submergence even at the cost of their life to save the life and natural
resources of the valley, according to the declaration today by Medha
Patkar, Baba Muhariya, Luvariya and other satyagrahis.

A large contingent of Maharashtra police has arrived in Domkhedi to take
'action' against the satyagrahis. The people have so far foiled police
attempts to come near the Satyagraha site. The Madhya Pradesh police is
also set to crack down on the Satyagraha. The people on Monday made the MP
police retreat.

The water level at the damsite on the morning of 20th July was 90.4 meters.

The Narmada valley tribals-peasants are protesting against the forcible
submergence and displacement imposed by the government. They have decided
to challenge the fraud which the government has been playing upon the
people and judicial processes. The government has filed false affidavits
regarding the resettlement when even the first few villages near the dam
site in Gujarat could not be fully resettled. The people are protesting
against imposing the submergence, displacement and the dam on them and the
people of India. They have demanded the full review of the project with the
public hearing and through a new tribunal. They made it clear that allowing
the construction on the dam would be the destruction of the valley and the
democratic norms of this country.

Sanjay Sangvai