The Struggle to Save Narmada Reaches Delhi

Jantar Mantar in Delhi witnessed a group of activists extending support to Medha Patkar and Narmada Bachao Andolan. Yogendra Yadav, Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey and Dr. Sunilam of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti voiced their anger against the government in this symbolic hunger strike. On the other hand, Hunger Strike on ground Zero led by Patkar entered 8th day.

While hunger strike continues in Jantar Mantar, a group of 10-12 farmers were seen sitting on the protest site. They came to Delhi all the way from Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh, to join the protesters.

“I own 5 acres of land which will be entirely submerged at the closure of the Dam gates”, Balu Battu, a farmer from Kadmal village, expressed his concerns.

“All my land will be submerged and I have not been given any kind of compensation for that; no land, no money. I am fighting for 10 years; my case is filed with the GRA”, said the farmer who is dependent on farming to make ends meet.

When asked about the ongoing protests in the Narmada Valley, Balu said: "Thousands of people from different villages including Bagud, Picchodi, Avalda, Chikhalda, Kadmal, Kharparkheda, Bajararkheda, Nisarpur, Kothada, Karodia, Bodhwada, Gopalpura, Gangali, Kavathi, Ekalbara, Semalda, and Parkhed are fighting  against the government and the police, alongside with didi (Medha Patkar).”

“We will fight and we will win" he added, determinedly.

On the other hand, Medha Patkar of Narmada BachaoAndolan and oustees are continuing their hunger strike and are determined to fight against the forceful displacement.

Madhuresh Kumar from National Alliance of People's Movements said in solidarity that the health of Medha Patkar and the protesters isstill fine and they will continue to fight till they get justice.

According to a recent estimate released by the NBA, there are 39,197 project-affected families (PAFs) , out of which just 12,050 are living in rehabilitation sites.The rest, 27,147 have refused to move out.

The data released ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing on August 8 is seeking full and final rehabilitation of all 39,000 PAFs. The data shows that rehabilitation is extremely tardy.

Meanwhile, the protest is gathering increasing support from across the country. Yesterday, in Vadodara, hundreds of activists observed one-day fast in support of Patkar. Along with well-known environmentalist Rohit Prajapati of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, the villagers from south Saurashtra region, who fought their way to oust the proposed nuclear plant at Mithi Virdi, joined the protest. 

In a statement, the activists said: "An imminent danger of displacement looms large on 40,000 people of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Even in the absence of proper plans for rehabilitation, the concerned authority decided to close the gates of Sardar Sarovar dam on July 31 this year. It is not understood what the government is trying to prove by doing so when there is no effective usage of its water right now."