[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