In violation of legal rights, SC judgments, infringement of right to life

Vadodara-based environmental group Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti’s statement on Narmada mahotsav, to begin on September 17:

The Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada is to affect 244 villages and one township due to its reservoir spread over 40,000 hectares in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat as far as 214 kilometers upstream. Out of 192 villages and one township falling in Madhya Pradesh, at least 150 villages are in the plains, with highest density of population including various occupational categories such as farmers, laborers’, potters, fish workers, boatmen, shopkeepers and various artisans and small entrepreneurs. The adivasis in hilly areas are communities living on the agricultural land as well as forest and fish. The whole of the area and village communities that are to be affected is scheduled tribe where PESA should be applicable.
There are at least 40,000 families residing in the submergence area today (the original villages with generations old communities). The hilly communities where land and forest is lost on an increasing scale since 1990s, comparatively a small area of the affected farms and about 1,000 houses from villages in the plains faced submergence in 2013 during flood and bore huge destruction and loss of farm produce, houses which collapsed, boats and nets flown away.
The Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) of the Sardar Sarovar affected families is governed by the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award (NWDTA), each of the state’s policy and the two main judgments of the Supreme Court of India (2000 and 2005). The landholders are to get minimum 2 hectares of land, if they are severely affected while the landless, as per Action Plan (1993 onwards) submitted before the Apex court, are to get a source of livelihood with a special fund and through a special agency.
The Government of Maharashtra and Gujarat no doubt resettled more than 14,000 families with land, while Madhya Pradesh allotted land to hardly 53 families in its own state. As per the Tribunal, Gujarat had to give land to 5,500 families from Madhya Pradesh and 777 families from Maharashtra while the rest of the oustees chose to resettle in their own state. The Madhya Pradesh government decided to give cash in lieu of land, against the law, that is, Tribunal Award and Supreme Court’s judgments (2000 and 2005) which led to fake registries, scam and derailment of policy depriving thousands of families of their due entitlements in rehabilitation.
The huge corruption in various aspects of rehabilitation in Madhya Pradesh was investigated by the High Court-appointed Justice Jha Commission whose 2000 pages has not been opened as the High Court was prevented from doing so by the apex court which handed it over to the government of Madhya Pradesh and asked it to the take action. No appropriate action on the basis of the recommendations is taken as of yet. The Supreme Court stopped the government from acting against the oustees while the Jha Commission has held the officials of the Narmada Valley Development Authority and the agents (about 400 named) as responsible.
The result is that many farmers got duped in fake registries scam of land based (or farmers) and livelihood based for the landless, fishermen, labourers, potters; the resettlement sites are without 2 hectares land and the landless without alternative livelihood, hundreds are yet to get a house plot and thousands are not able to build their houses at the resettlement sites which lack even basic amenities due to neglect and massive corruption over years.
This is obvious from the fact that 40 engineers-officers were sacked due to corruption in construction works at all R&R sites in Madhya Pradesh, after the CAG report and during the case of Narmada Bachao Andolan before the High Court, Jabalpur. The 2000 page report by Justice Jha Commission incorporated a technical report by MANIT, Bhopal and IIT, Mumbai bringing out a totally unlivable condition at the R&R sites and corruption involved. No work was carried out since then till the Supreme Court order of 8.2.2017.
In Maharashtra too there are a few hundred families yet to get land and house plot, a few hundred are yet to be declared as Project Affected, some are to get forest rights and land measurement to work on amenities is pending in the R&R sites whereas more sites are yet lacking in irrigation and basic amenities. The state has hidden all this and reported false compliance. Problems of adivasis in the hills and those at the sites are serious.
In Gujarat relay fast by the oustees of our state has been on since the 15th of July 2016, just completing one year, yet no final response to the demand for completing rehabilitation and ‘No to taking back land after 20 years’. Gujarat is ready and has begun taking back lands allotted to hundreds of adivasis, after 15-20 years!
This situation obviously could not lead to closure of gates, completing the dam and filling waters upto 139 meters height. This will raise water level by 55 ft, while with 122 meter high dam in 2013 itself water had gushed in and caused submergence of hundreds of houses. Can anyone survive when this happens?
Sardar Sarovar gates have been closed since 17th June onwards and it’s claimed that this has been done with due diligence and approval by the R&R subgroup and Environment subgroup.
However, that is based on false claims and fake figures. There are not less than 40,000 families in the submergence area of Madhya Pradesh itself. All of them are to be drowned and devastated, with their farms and houses, schools, shops, brick kilns, enterprises, temples, mosques and all religious places, huge number of cattle and big trees, the green cover for Narmada. You may judge yourself as to what will be the fate of these lakhs of people and the generations old communities?
This is nothing else but political expediency of Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh government, all out and ready to benefit corporates in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
This is in violation of legal rights, Supreme Court judgments since 2000 and infringement of right to life.

This must be immediately challenged and stopped.
No force should be used against those sacrificing for development.
Each of the Project Affected Families (PAFs) including the landless must be rehabilitated as per eligibility and benefits granted by law, policy and action plans submitted to the Apex court.
All R&R sites should be ready with all the civic amenities as per tribunal award and R&R policy.
No impoundment affecting any family before complete rehabilitation should be permitted.
Project, its impacts and feasibility of just rehabilitation may be reviewed to find a reasonable way out.
The Prime Minister and his party should realise that their honeymoon is over. Three years of bluff, bluster, empty promises, pompous announcements, jamborees, foreign junkets, photo-shoots with world leaders can neither drown out sane voices nor will questions people ask about concrete performance.

— Jyotibhai Desai Rohit Prajapati, Swati Desai Krishnakant and Anand Mazgaonkar

Comments

Constitution day makes us remember and rethink the values that India stands for

By Dr. Kapilendra Das* India, also known as Bharat, was liberated from British rule and gained Independence on August 15, 1947. So every year on 15th August we celebrate Independence Day throughout the country. The Indians felt the taste of freedom, but there were no rules and regulations to govern the country for which British rules were effective up to January 25, 1950. To govern India, the draft constitution was prepared by the Drafting Committee which was published in January 1948, and the same was finally adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, the day of an important landmark in India’s journey as an independent, Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic. The constitution so adopted came into force on 26 January 1950. To memorize 26 January, every year we observe Republic Day throughout India. To mark rethinking and remembrance of the day of adoption of the constitution of India, 26 November has been celebrating as “Constituti

Seventh most vulnerable nation, effects of climate change can be seen in Bangladesh

Mashrur Siddique Bhuiyan* From November 6–18, 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt is hosting the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This two-week climate conference is critical for the globe because it occurs at a time when nations are coping with a global energy crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, rising inflation rates, and dwindling funding for climate adaptation. It also has great significance for Bangladesh, as the country's ability to maintain its economic growth depends on raising the necessary finances for urgent climate action and mitigation. This year’s theme is "Delivering for People and the Planet," which aims to hasten global climate action by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, fostering resilience and preparing for climate change's unavoidable effects, and increasing the flow of climate finance to developing nations. The goals of COP27 are based on the outcomes of COP21, which was held in Paris in 2015

Unsung, tens of Morbi youth of local fishing community saved many, many lives

By Rajiv Shah It was indeed a treat to listen to Bhavik Raja, who spoke at a meeting of the Movement for Secular Democracy the other day in Ahmedabad. Speaking in chaste Gujarati, Raja recalled his childhood days in Mobi when he and his friends would often go to the town's Jhulto Pul (Hanging Bridge) in free time. I listened to him online. The bridge, which should have been given a heritage status, was handed over to the owners of a watch-making tycoon for repair. The repair was carried out so shoddily that it broke down in less than a week after it was opened for general public, leading to the death of more than 140 persons, many of them children. Raja, who formed a group of three-person activists' team on a fact-finding mission to Mobi, said, what isn't taken note of is how tens of youth, belonging to the local Muslim fishing community, jumped into the river and saved many, many lives. It's a marshy river, and to navigate in there is an extremely difficult exercise.

Zakir Naik tumult, Catholic Church power abuse: will Anwar Ibrahim save Malaysia?

Anwar Ibrahim By Jay Ihsan* Anwar Ibrahim, a hardcore reformist who took a punch to his eye in 1998 from then inspector-general of police, Rahim Noor, has finally been given the mandate by Malaysians to serve as the nation's 10th prime minister. Anwar knows too well the burden of staying true to both trust and faith the people have in him requires every once of commitment and dedication. The question is will he be apologetic for his transgressions enroute to "rebuilding" Malaysia? In his overzealousness to get the job done, Anwar, 75, needs to safeguard every bit of gumption to address prickling issues plaguing the safety of the nation especially those involving communal sensitivities. For one, dare Anwar get rid of terrorist hate preacher and fugitive Zakir Naik for inciting religious unrest in Malaysia? In November 2016, India’s counter-terrorism agency filed an official complaint against Naik, holding him responsible for promoting religious hatred and unlawful activi

Ukraine war revitalizes silent competition between China and Russia in Central Asia

By John P. Ruehl At the recent Commonwealth for Independent States (CIS) summit held on October 14 in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon expressed previously inconceivable remarks. His public admonishment of Russian President Vladimir Putin to treat Central Asian states with more respect showed the growing confidence of Central Asian leaders amid Russia’s embroilment in Ukraine and China’s expanding regional influence. After coming under Russian imperial rule in the 18th and 19th centuries , five Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan— emerged independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. While these countries remained heavily dependent on Russia for security, economic, and diplomatic support, China saw an opportunity in their vast resources and potential to facilitate trade across Eurasia. Chinese-backed development and commerce increased after the Soviet collapse and expanded further after the launch of China’s Belt an

Adequate attention not paid on changing human life to realize climate change aim

By Bharat Dogra Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. It has to be checked as a matter of highest priority. Despite this adequate attention has not been given to how human life must change to realize this objective. We know that fossil fuels must be phased out and replaced by renewable energy. But is renewable energy capable of meeting the present day massive energy requirements, along with the increase taking place? Even if it is, what are the implications if renewable energy has to be scaled up to this level, and at such gigantic level won’t renewable energy also have very adverse consequences, although of a different kind? Such questions make the situation more complicated, but these have to be faced. So let us try to approach the issue in a somewhat different way. Since the daily consumption of various goods and utilities involves the use of fossil fuels in various ways, if all excessive, wasteful and harmful consumption can be given up, this will also lead

Integrating biodiversity for poverty removal still not binding for this UN body

Reacting to a statement of the executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD ), United Nations, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which fell on October 17, well-known Thiruvananthapuram-based ecologist S Faizi has objected to the CBD’s plan for “effective integration of biodiversity for poverty eradication”. *** I compliment you for issuing this statement . However, I am disappointed to see that the CBD COP's output on poverty and biodiversity, namely the Chennai Guidance is not even referred to in your statement, particularly so since the 12th COP has asked the Executive Secretary to "continue the work requested by the Conference of the Parties in decisions X/6 and XI/22, for the effective integration of biodiversity for poverty eradication and development, taking into account also the related decisions of the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting" and to promote the Chennai

Much like earlier meetings, COP 27 fails to find real solution to overcome climate crisis

By NS Venkataraman* COP 27 in Egypt was organized with much fanfare and expectations, similar to COP 26 at Glasgow that was organised in 2021. While nothing significant was achieved in combating the climate crisis subsequent to the Glasgow Meet, one thought that COP 27 would be more productive and would find some real solutions to overcome the climate crisis. Leaders and representatives from most of the countries participated in the COP 27 including the President of USA, Prime Minister of UK and so many others. Cosmetic speeches were made by the leaders, committing themselves to save the world from global warming and noxious emissions. Finally, resolutions would be adopted after representatives of all countries put their heads together . With no tangible agreement about the fundamental issues, the resolutions would inevitably end up as face saving documents. During COP 27, the UAE President clearly said that the UAE would not reduce production of crude oil and natural gas. In t

Bangladesh to import diesel from India: Win-win situation amidst economic turmoil?

Kamal Uddin Mazumder* Bangladesh and India had been sharing friendly and warm relations since 1971. Both of the countries have been kith and kin through crisis moments. Bangladesh has witnessed India’s support from the liberation war to the Covid-19 pandemic. As now the world is facing the repercussions of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war through the economic crisis and the energy crisis, India is still with Bangladesh through a cooperative framework. The government of Bangladesh had decided to cut down its fuel consumption to keep up with the global energy crisis. It was necessary to import fuel at the cheapest possible rate to mitigate the crisis. Some talks had been initiated with countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Brunei but India came forward first. The geographical proximity and the longest shared border had ushered multidimensional ways of cooperation and collaboration in many areas. The import of diesel from India through the pipeline is one of the prime example

Maldives migrants' death: Govt bodies haven't done enough for workers' safety, security

By Kirity Roy* We have been notified by the media that a hazardous fire, which erupted in a cramped neighborhood of Maldivian capital Male, has killed 10 migrant workers including 9 Indians. We are much aggrieved by this incident, and sending our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Many are missing. Almost half the population in the Maldivian capital constitutes of migrant workers, and out of them many are Indians. During the COVID-19 pandemic it was reported by many media outlets that due to the cramped and unsuitable living conditions, the disease spread more rapidly among the foreign workers than anywhere else in the country. This brought the light upon the serious housing problem for the migrant workers in the country. The current incident shows that the Government bodies have not done enough to ensure safety and security for the workers. While the United Nations have established the rights of the Migrant workers through the International Convention on the Prot

Search This Blog