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print versionFrom: Narmada Bachao Andolan
2, Sai Nagar, Mata Chowk, Khandwa, M.P
Tel: 0733-2228418, 09425394606. 09425928007
E-mail: nbakhandwa@gmail.com
ACTION ALERT!
Oustees of Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar dam fighting for their rights and life need your support
Oustees standing in dam water for last 5 days
Dear Friends,
The oustees of the Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar dam in the Narmada valley in Madhya Pradesh, who are fighting for their rights and their life are in the need of your urgent support. The Government and the company NHDC Limited which has built these dams are illegally and in violation of the Orders of the High Court and Supreme Court raising the water level in these dams, causing submergence of lands and houses of thousands of oustees without rehabilitation. 34 oustees of Omkareshwar dam along with senior activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan Chittaroopa Palit have been on “Jal-Satyagraha†and are standing in the Omkareshwar dam water for last 5 days. Many of these jal satyagrahies have developed blisters in their feet. In the Indira Sagar dam area also today Jal Satyagraha has started at 3 places in the rising water of the dam.
OMKARESHWAR DAM
In May 2011, the Apex Court ruled that the authorities are obliged to allot a land for land and a minimum of 2 ha. of land, well in advance of the completion of dam construction. However, although an entire year has passed since the judgment, the State has failed to allot land to the over 2500 land-holder families. It may noted that recently even the Grievance Redressal Authority has said in its orders that the rehabilitation policy has not been followed and all the oustees of Omkareshwar dam should be given land in lieu of land. Over 1000 families remain to be allotted even house-plots. Various other entitlements remain to be provided.
Yet, the State Government and the project authorities have announced that they intend to raise the water level of the Omkareshwar dam to 193 meters from the earlier level of 189 meters and on 25th August, 2012 when the authorities raised the level of the reservoir by 1.5 meters, the oustees started Jal Satyagraha and since then they are standing in the water of Omkareshwar dam.
INDIRA SAGAR DAM
Similarly, in the Indira Sagar dam area also thousands of oustees are yet to be given land and other rehabilitation entitlements. There are orders of Supreme Court and High Court that the water level in Indira Sagar dam cannot be raised beyond level of 260 meters. In spite of this, the government has started raising the water level beyond 260 meters. In protest, Jal Satyagraha has started today at three places in the Indira Sagar dam submergence areas in villages Khardana, Badgaon Mal and Badkhaliya of Districts Harda and Khandwa.
The oustees of the Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar dam urgently need your support.
We request you to :
Write to Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh and Collector, Khandwa asking him to bring the water level down to 189 meters in Omkareshwar dam and 260 meters in Indira Sagar dam and to rehabilitate all the oustees by giving them land and other rehabilitation entitlements.(Petitions are attached, pl. send e-mail, and fax)
Come to the Narmada Valley and join the Jal Satyagraha of the oustees.
Hold demonstration/other programmes in support of Jal Satyagraha.
Thank you for your support,
In solidarity,
Alok Agarwal, Radheshyam Tirole, Sakubai, Radhabai
Note : Khandwa is on Delhi-Mumbai, Howrah- Mumbai rail line. 3 hrs by road from Indore, 4 hrs by train from Bhopal
Contacts : Alok Agarwal (094259-28007, 09009710068), Chittaroopa Palit (09425394606), Gulabchand (09424524638), Khandwa office : 0733-2228318
To,
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
Chief Minister,
Government of Madhya Pradesh,
Vallabh Bhawan,
Bhopal
Fax: 91-755-2441781, 2540501,
E-mail: cm@mp.nic.in
Subject : Urgent action regarding oustees of Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar Dams.
Dear Sir,
We have learnt with deep shock that the water level in Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar dams in the Narmada Valley have been illegally raised causing submergence of numerous lands and houses of oustees of these dams. Oustees of these dams have not been rehabilitated and resettled as per rehabilitation policy by giving them agricultural land and other rehabilitation entitlements. Although the Supreme Court has clearly ordered that these oustees have to be rehabilitated 6 months before submergence, thousands of families who are yet to be rehabilitated are now being submerged in complete violation of Supreme Court and High Court orders.
We have also learned that many oustees have been standing in Omkareshwar dam water and also in Indira Sagar dam, demanding reduction in water level and rehabilitation before submergence. It is extremely disturbing that the oustees have to embark on Jal Satygraha to get their due rehabilitation rights.
We, therefore request you to immediately order reduction in water level in Omkareshwar dam to 189 meters and in Indira Sagar Dam to 260 meters and rehabilitate all the oustees by giving agricultural land and other rehabilitation entitlements.
Thanking you,
To,
The Collector,
District Khandwa,
Khandwa,
Madhya Pradesh.
Phone : 91-733-2224153(O), 91-733-2226666(O), 91-733-2223333(R);Fax : 91-733-2224233
E-mail: dmkhandwa@mp.nic.in
Subject : Urgent action regarding oustees of Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar Dams.
Dear Sir,
We have learnt with deep shock that the water level in Omkareshwar and Indira Sagar dams in the Narmada Valley have been illegally raised causing submergence of numerous lands and houses of oustees of these dams. Oustees of these dams have not been rehabilitated and resettled as per rehabilitation policy by giving them agricultural land and other rehabilitation entitlements. Although the Supreme Court has clearly ordered that these oustees have to be rehabilitated 6 months before submergence, thousands of families who are yet to be rehabilitated are now being submerged in complete violation of Supreme Court and High Court orders.
We have also learned that many oustees have been standing in Omkareshwar dam water and also in Indira Sagar dam, demanding reduction in water level and rehabilitation before submergence. It is extremely disturbing that the oustees have to embark on Jal Satygraha to get their due rehabilitation rights.
We, therefore request you to immediately order reduction in water level in Omkareshwar dam to 189 meters and in Indira Sagar Dam to 260 meters and to rehabilitate and resettle all the oustees by allotting agricultural land to them and providing them other rehabilitation entitlements.
Thanking you,
