Narmada Bachao Andolan
2, Sai Nagar, Mata Chowk, Khandwa, M.P.
Tel: 0733-2228418,09425394606,9425928007
E-mail: nbakhandwa@gmail.com
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URGENT ACTION ALERT URGENT ACTION ALERT
INDEFINITE SATYAGRAHA AND FAST OF MAHESHWAR DAM OUSTEES TO COMMENCE FROM 22nd APRIL 2010 AT DELHI
Dear friends,
From the 22nd of April, 2010, the oustees of the Maheshwar dam are commencing satyagraha and indefinite fast in Delhi demanding the immediate suspension of the Maheshwar dam under S.5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 until a comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan is submitted, and the over 10,000 oustee families are rehabilitated and resettled according to the conditions of the environmental clearances and the approved rehabilitation policy.
As you are aware, the Maheshwar dam is one of the large dams being built on river Narmada. The project was privatised by the Government of M.P. in 1992, and handed over to the S.Kumar’s group. Around 50,000 to 70,000 peasants, fisher people, boatpeople and landless workers in 61 villages of this area who are presently dependent on the extremely rich riverine and land economy of this area will be affected by this project. The oustees of this dam have been relentlessly fighting for their rights, for last 14 years under the aegis of Narmada Bachao Andolan raising the issues of the un-viability of the high-cost power project, the failure of the rehabilitation process, and the various financial irregularities in the project and project funding. As a consequence, many international banks and companies left the project and the German and Portugese governments declined to give guarantees to the project, as they found among other things, that the rehabilitation of oustees is impossible and project is unviable.
It may be pointed out that as per the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, the affected villagers are to be provided agricultural land and other rehabilitation benefits. The Ministry of Environment and Forest gave its clearance in 1994 to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, which was transferred to private company SMHPCL of the S.Kumars group in 2001. However, in violation of the conditions of the clearance which required that a complete R&R Plan with details of agricultural land was to be submitted by December 2001, and which required the implementation of the R&R measures at the same pace as dam construction, the construction work is now over about 80%, while the rehabilitation of the 10,000 oustee families is around 5%. Even the full extent of submergence is yet to be known.
In October 2009, the Environment Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh about this grave situation expressing his apprehension that the oustees would be left in the lurch without R&R. In his reply dated November 2009, the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh confirmed that not more than 3% of the R&R measures has been completed. After the oustees demonstrated before the Ministry on the 17th of February 2010, the MOEF issued a show cause notice under S.5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to the promoter company Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Limited (SMHPCL) stating that there has been no satisfactory compliance with the conditions of the environmental clearance, and asking them to show cause as to why the clearance should not be revoked and directions for the closure of the Maheshwar project should not be issued. The reply filed by SMHPCL in response to the show- cause notice confirms that there is no Rehabilitation Plan with details of the agricultural land to be allotted to the oustees, and that the R&R measures are far lagging behind the construction of the dam.
It is important to note that after above reply, during his visit to Bhopal on 2nd April 2010 Environment Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh acknowledged before the media that conditions of clearance in Maheshwar Project have been violated and status of rehabilitation is appalling. He also said that he is ready to suspend work on the dam until rehabilitation is completed. However the Ministry of Environment and Forests is yet to suspend work on the project. (Interview published in “The Statesman” is annexed).
In this grave situation, the oustees of Maheshwar dam have decided to start an indefinite Fast and Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 22nd April, 2010. The oustees of Omkareshwar, Indira Sagar, Man and Upper Beda dams will also participate in large numbers in the struggle program. The Narmada Bachao Andolan demands the Ministry of Environment and Forests the Ministry which has statutory power and is under statutory duty to immediately suspend the construction on the dam, until a comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan is submitted, and the oustees are rehabilitated and resettled according to the conditions of the clearances and the R&R Policy.
We request you to:
a. Come and join the struggling oustees at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
b. Write to Environment Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh to immediately suspend the construction on the Maheshwar dam, and ensure that a comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan is submitted, and that the oustees are rehabilitated and resettled according to the Plan. (A draft letter is attached)
Shri Jairam Ramesh
Hon'ble Minister
Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Paryavaran Bhavan,CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Fax: 011-24362222 / 24361727
E-mail: jairam@vsnl.com, jairam54@gmail.com,
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