Staement by NAPM: State-enabled and human-induced destructive flood in the Narmada Valley, is the responsibility of the Central and state governments! Reservoir not being regulated and emptied on time to ‘celebrate Prime Minister Modi's birthday’ *led to the massive submergence and destruction.*
*9th November, 2023:* The devastation caused by floods in more than 100 villages of the Narmada Valley has once again exposed the government's
negligence, false assessments, and failed 'development' models! Endorsing the public statement issued by National Alliance of People's Movements
(NAPM), numerous people’s organizations and concerned citizens across India hold the Central and Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat governments responsible for
this disaster! We demand an accurate assessment of the damage to the affected people, prompt surveys according to law, and immediate assistance,
compensation and rehabilitation. Additionally, officials who falsely assessed the backwater level levels and did not follow the law should be held accountable. Reassessment of backwater levels, compensation and rehabilitation benefits for the submerged land, houses for the affected families must be ensured.
*This year's devastating flood has brought back to the spotlight the issues raised by the Narmada Bachao Andolan at various levels and in courts, over
decades, questioning the intentions and (in)actions of the government. Some of the main reasons for this flood are:
1. The government kept the reservoir filled in September to commemorate Prime Minister Modi's birthday (17th September, 2023), contrary to law.
2. Not opening the gates of the Narmada Dam in time.
3. Narmada Valley Development Authority arbitrarily changing the previously established backwater levels and assessing the new levels in an unscientific manner.*
We believe that if the government had been even slightly sensitive to the people, this disaster could have been mitigated, to a large extent. However, the government has callously ignored the demands of the people, disregarding their rights to life and livelihood!
Emptying the Narmada reservoir as per the regulations did not happen because the BJP-led states (Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat) wanted to ‘showcase’ the full reservoir on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, revealing the appalling nature of both central and state governments.
Narmada Bachao Andolan has been raising its voice against the government's wrong assessments for years. But by ignoring their concerns, the Madhya
Pradesh government incorrectly assessed the backwater level, and the area the government claimed would not get submerged ended up being submerged!
Thousands of people suffered losses, and lives were lost. By lying and basing their assessment on a flawed model, the government has put the lives of thousands of people at risk. This is another vivid example of BJP's 'fake news'!
In the downstream areas of Gujarat, especially cities like Bharuch and Ankleshwar, thousands of houses were affected. Fisher people and farmers have suffered severe losses. If the reservoirs are not properly and timely managed and regulated by the government, the adverse effects will continue to burden ordinary people, which is completely unjust!
*National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and all of us undersigned,strongly condemn this widespread destruction brought about by the government. We support all the just demands of the people of the valley and insist on their complete and fair rehabilitation.*
*We call upon the Central and state governments to comply with the decision of the Narmada Tribunal, all orders of the Supreme Court (including the
order of 24th October, 2019), and the rehabilitation policies of all states, maintaining the water level of the reservoir dam at 122 meters until complete and just rehabilitation takes place.*
*We appeal to millions of people living in various river valleys across the country to strengthen the struggle to halt the construction of large dams based on flawed 'development' models created by different governments. We urge you to stand with the thousands of people affected by submergence in
Narmada this year.*
*Issued by National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)*