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dam-l LS: Mass Protest Against Pancheshwar Dam
Mass Protest against PANCHESHWAR Dam
The Mahakali river basin has again come into limelight
after India and Nepal concluded a much controversial
Mahakali Treaty on 12th February1996 to share the
exploits of the mega-dam to be jointly hoisted at
Pancheshwar.
Both the parties agreed to generate a total of 6,480
MW of power from Pancheshwar dam alone. The treaty
includes integrated development of Sharda and Tanakpur
Barrage. The multi-purpose project is supposed to
generate hydropower for India and Nepal and regulate
flow for irrigation and flood control in both
countries. Total implementation cost is 2980 million
US$ at 1995 prices in 13.5 years of total
implementation period.
The project as it stands now is planned to be erected
in two stages. In the first stage, a massive 315 mt
high dam is to be constructed at 2 kms down stream of
Pancheshwar, the confluence of river Kali (Mahakali)
and river Saryu. In the second stage, one more 145 mt.
high dam will be constructed further down along the
river Sharda at Purnagiri.
By Pancheshwar dam alone, the area to be submerged by
the reservoir will be over 120 sq. km. in India and 14
sq. km in Nepal. The project does not comment on the
number of people to be displaced. Information
available lead us to believe that around 250 villages/
settlements are to be submerged by the project. This
is a part of the series of 56 dams above the height of
50 mt constructed / under construction and planned in
Uttarakhand.
In the last two three decades, the very existence of
large dams has been questioned from almost every angle
and determined to be utterly destructive in the long
run. The irrecoverable run down of the river valley
ecosystems the issue. The pauperization of the natives
of the submergence area in the wake of displacement
has put a serious question mark on the supposed
economic benefits of large dams. And this need not be
repeated. Yet large dams continue to be planned and
built in all the countries, euphemistically termed as
the third world.
While all this is happening behind closed doors, the
very people are being denied access to any
information. Not only they have not been ignored but
they have been misinformed and misguided to pave the
smooth way for companies and contractors. And now is
the last nail in the coffin of the rural populace.
The Pancheshwar dam is the biggest thing yet to appear
in Asia. The losses are going to be much higher. The
majority of the population will be pushed in to
corner. Ways have to be found to turn the tables and
ease their plight.
For a long time the villagers and local peopleís
organisations have been demanding detailed information
regarding the proposed Project from the Government and
Administration. But all the concerned authorities have
ignored their demands and have crushed their
democratic right to information.
In order to oppose the proposed Dam the effected local
people organised a one-day collective fasting (Upavas)
at the proposed dam sight on the 30-31st January 2000.
To express solidarity with the local people, protest
Upvas/ dharna was organised in New Delhi, Lucknow, and
major cities of North India and Uttarakhand.
Mahakali Bandh Virodhi Morcha, a dam protest forum of
The Himalayan River Valley Conservation Campaign
Report of the Pancheshwar dam protest organised on
30-31 Jan. 2000
The Pancheshwar dam, a joint project of India and
Nepal governments is proposed on the Kali (Mahakali)
river at Pancheshwar, (Districts Pithoragarh and
Champawat).
Demanding disclosure of information in public
interest, on various aspects of the proposed
Pancheshwar Dam, the local people and representatives
from NGOs of Uttarakhand observed a peaceful
collective fast (Upvas) at the Pancheshwar temple
(close to the proposed dam sight) from 30 January to
afternoon of 31 January 2000.
Dam protesters, in eight groups, marching through
submergence villages in different valleys ñRamganga,
Panar, Saryu, Kali river valleys in India and from
Darchula, Betadi, Mahendranagar in Nepal, reached
Pancheshwar to participate in the collective fast.
The protesters begun fast after making prayers and
performing rituals on 30 January and continued till
2.00 pm of 31 January. Within the framework of
constitutional democratic peopleís rights the fasting
was focussed on the following points:
 The height and submergence area (complete and
partial) of the proposed Pancheshwar Dam.
 The villages, families and population to be
affected by the proposed Dam.
 Rehabilitation policy for the people to be
affected by the proposed Dam.
 Local people's share of profit in this
proposed dam.
 Effects on environment, in the bio-diversity
rich and seismically over-sensitive Himalayan zone of
Uttarakhand/ Nepal.
Information regarding purpose of the collective fast
was provided to the District Magistrates of Champawat
and Pithoragarh on January 28 and 29, 2000
respectively, by the representatives of the local
people and the organizations along with the copy of
the Memorandum sent to the Governor of the State.
People participating in second phase of the Upvas
assembled at the confluence at 7.30 am on 31 January
and undertook water oath after having bath in the
pious river. After the prayers local people from
neighboring villages started gathering and the formal
meeting began at 9.00 am with an introductory session
mentioning the purpose of gathering.
Although an intensive mass mobilisation campaign was
launched three months back and available information
from secondary sources were being disseminated to the
local populace but it was felt important to
authenticate the information. The main session began
at 10.00 am with local representatives coming forth
with their views.
Dr. Ganesh Pant of Pancheswar said that we will be the
first one to be removed from our motherland and we do
not want the dam. He said that the local people will
stand for the cause and requested the participants not
to betray them in middle of the struggle. Sh. Arjun
Chand of village Bhoura (Haldu) we do not have any
information on the dam that makes it difficult for us
to decide on its pros and cons, benefits and losses.
If we are well informed than we will together fight
for the cause but, making clear his apprehensions
about the powerful vested interests in dam building,
repeated the same request. Mr. Pawan Rana gave him the
commitment on behalf of the protestors.
Retired teacher from village Nidil told that the CWC
(Central Water Commission) has been working in this
area since late 50ís, they have encroached 300 nali (6
ha) of land in their village without giving any
compensation. He also made it very clear that till
date no body in the village has benefited in terms of
employment.
District Panchayat member from the area Ms. Abha singh
told the people that she had requested for information
on the issue from the government (administration),
local MLA, and MP but no body provided the basic
information. She said that it is important to
retrospect big dams and to disseminate information in
the public so that affected population is enabled to
make decision in case of mega-projects, whether they
are in their favour or are a part of conspiracy to
uproot them being guided by outside forces.
Mr. Gobind Kafliyal said that the issue of dam is as
sensitive as the nuclear bomb. He further said that
that the government is doing just opposite of what the
people of Uttarakhand are demanding, we want basic
amenities but we are being provided with destruction
plans and that too in the name of national interest.
Why is this planned development for us only.
Similarly all the participants presented their view on
the proposed dam. This session was at its peak when
some anti-social elements under the leadership of
local development block chief, under the banner of
pro-dam activists, reached the spot.
The peaceful demonstrators on fast were abused and
harassed in an inhuman way. Their posters and banners
were snatched and put to fire. They were threatened to
be thrown in the river if they ever attempted such a
demonstration. It is important to mention that some
ladies associated with the Gandhian ideology and
social organizations of Uttarakhand were also amongst
the demonstrators.
The demonstrators were compelled to shift the venue.
They again started making prayers and left the spot on
their scheduled time at 2.00 pm. Although the district
administration had deployed police force at the spot,
but they did not bother to stop the anti-social
elements.
In spite of prior information regarding the objectives
of the collective neither any senior officer of the
administration was present at the protest site in the
temple compound, nor did any relevant information
regarding the Pancheshwar Dam was provided till the
end of the fasting event. It appears, as if the
administration is following the policy of suppressing
the people's democratic right to information being
demanded in a peaceful manner.
In this respect we, the would be affected people of
the Pancheshwar Dam in Champawat and Pithoragarh
districts and Social Organizations of Uttarakhand,
earnestly demanding the below mentioned have given a
memorandum to the President of India:
- All relevant information regarding the Pancheshwar
Dam should be disclosed in public interest.
- An impartial inquiry is setup regarding the
harassment of the people on peaceful collective fast.
- The rehabilitation policy of the proposed
Pancheshwar Dam and all other dams in Uttarakhand is
disclosed in public interest.
- An independent analysis is conducted for feasibility
of the proposed Pancheshwar Dam.
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