The Demand: that the Government control the Back Water Level of the Dam to 122 meters, so that the Project Affected Families are not subjected to submergence once again this monsoon
10th day (23-6-2024) Th fast was called off, as the govt has promised to take up the key demands.
Protest at Dadar:
On the 16th and 17th of September, 2023, the backwaters of the Sardar Sarovar Dam submerged the homes, farms and forest resources of 15,946 families in M.P. This area was calculated as being above the submergence level of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and therefore these families were not to be Rehabilitated.
However, SUBMERGENCE DID OCCUR , devastating not only the lives and livelihood of the families, their farms, their forest resources, but killing 6 villagers and 1200 cattle. Demand for rehabilitation and compensation over a whole year have brought little or no response from the government so far.
Social Activist and leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, M/s Medha Patkar has been on an indefinite hunger strike in Chikhalda Village in M.P. , since the 15th of June 2024 and is joined by supporters who are on a day to day relay fast, to demand that the Government control the Back Water Level of the Dam to 122 meters, so that the Project Affected Families are not subjected to submergence once again this monsoon and this maximum level not be crossed until the displaced families are rehabilitated with all that is due to them.
From Madhuresh:
Many of you have been following the people's struggle in the Narmada Valley against the big dams for nearly four decades now. The Sardar Sarovar Dam has been forcibly constructed in violation of the government's laws, the Supreme Court rulings and the issues of resettlement and rehabilitation still remain far from complete. The complaint mechanism set up by the law remains dysfunctional with all the key posts not filled in for long.
Despite this every year government insists on filling the reservoir to its full level causing massive flooding in the backwater levels and submerging people, their land and livelihood. Narmada Bachao Andolan - NBA (Save Narmada Movement) has been carrying on the struggle on the ground, in the courts and every other democratic forum, unfortunately these have been falling on the deaf years. It is in this backdrop that from June 15th Medha Patkar, leader of NBA has started an indefinite hunger strike in the village Chikhalda on the banks of river Narmada in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Her activist colleagues take their turn every day and are sitting on relay hunger strike pressing with their demand for justice, and asking them to stop filling the reservoir.
*The 15th of June marked the beginning of an indefinite fast by Medha Patkar, for justice in the Narmada valley. The demands from this fast include, rehabilitation of all the remaining Project Affected as per the laws, policies, and Supreme Court orders. The women and men in the present struggle are also asserting their right to, a fair market value compensation to all those who endured losses in the 2023 man-made devastation along the Narmada, the appointment of Rehabilitation officers and Hon. Members of grievance Redressal Authority, Madhya Pradesh, in all the vacant posts, and till all these tasks are not completed, maintaining the Sardar Sarovar water level at 122 metres (crest level), keeping the 17 metres gates open. *
A reminder of .. Harsud..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hjKyAZD9uc
https://www.youtube.com/k-L0tu1VwvU