[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

dam-l LS: PR: Reduction in SSP Height Won't Solve Basic Issues



NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN

B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007( Ph. 0265-382232, 
Badwani-07290-22464)

Press Note/ May 23, 2000

REDUCTION IN SSP HEIGHT WON'T SOLVE BASIC ISSUES: COMPLETE REVIEW OF 
SSP AND OTHER DAMS IN NARMADA VALLEY IS REAL ANSWER

It appears that moves are afoot for reducing the height of the 
controversial Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) from 455 to 436 feet or 
so, through some hackneyed compromise between the concerned 
governments. This may be done without informing and taking into 
confidence the people in the Narmada Valley.

If this is done, it will amount to evading all important issues 
regarding the dam, including the displacement, resettlement and 
cost-benefit of the project, which the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) 
has been raising all these years. Even if the height of the dam is 
reduced, all the issues that are now being raised will also equally 
be applicable to that reduced height. Reducing the height of the dam 
by a few feet is not the solution in itself. It can be at best the 
first step towards the direction of the complete review of the dam 
with the people's participation. The NBA has already pointed out at 
number of sustainable and decentralised alternatives for water and 
land management in the drought-prone areas of Gujarat and for the 
Narmada valley.

The concerned governments and the people at large must know that 
reducing from present 455 feet to 436 feet will not solve the basic 
issues of displacement, resettlement, land availability, cost-benefit 
of the dam and environmental aspects. Even at the reduced height the 
adivasi (tribal) area of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh would be 
submerged along with the substantial area of the fertile Nimad region 
in M.P. It will negate the rationale of the civil suit filed by 
Government of Madhya Pradesh, in 1999, for the appointment of the new 
tribunal for the review of the Narmada projects.

Moreover, it would also be incongruent in the context of the recent 
report of the Task Force, appointed by the Madhya Pradesh government. 
The Task Force makes a forceful plea for a decentralised and 
sustainable water management and provides alternatives for water and 
energy management.

We warn all the concerned governments that the struggling people in 
the Narmada valley will not accept any such haphazard move and 
reassert that the people demand the complete review of this project 
and entire Narmada valley development Plan with the people's 
participation.

Court Order

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has reserved its order after the final 
hearing on May 9, in the public interest litigation filed by the 
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) against the controversial Sardar Sarovar 
Project (SSP). The court has, meanwhile ordered the three Grievance 
Redressal Authorities (GRAs, two newly established in Madhya Pradesh 
and Maharashtra and the one set up in Gujarat early last year - 
headed by Jst. (Retd) P.D.Desai) to examine the claims of the three 
state Governments about lands said to be available for resettlement 
for all the oustees of the project till the full height. The GRAs are 
to make field surveys and report about the availability and 
suitability of the lands by 1 July.

The Court has asked the newly established Grievance Redressal 
Authorities (GRAs) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh - headed by 
Jst.(Retd.). Kurudkar and Jst (Retd) Sohoni respectively, to examine 
the ground realities about the resettlement carried out so far in 
these two states, assess whether the rehabilitation has been 
according to the Tribunal Award, and report back to the Court with at 
least an interim report on 1 July.

It is expected that the Court will give the judgement only after 
receiving the reports of these.

Sanjay Sangvai