International Solidarity | 21 Green Nobel Prize Winner and others extend solidarity to the struggle of Narmada Bachao Andolan and write letter to Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

21 Green Nobel Prize Winner extend solidarity to the struggle of Narmada Bachao Andolan and write letter to Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

More than 50 International organisations extend solidarity, ask PM to intervene and stop drowning or forced evictions of more than 40000 families in Narmada Valley.

New Delhi | August 07, 2017: People and organisations from 30 countries have now extended support to ongoing struggle for justice in the Narmada valley. Since July 27th, 12 project affected people including a Medha Patkar are sitting on an indefinite fast demanding complete and just rehabilitation of more than 40000 families facing threat of submergence due to increased height of Sardar Sarovar Dam to 138.68 meters.

21 Goldman environmental prize winner also known as Green Nobel Prize in a collective letter urged Prime Minister Modi to intervene immediately and ensure the fundamental rights of life and livelihood of the people in a democratic country.

Earlier Noam Chomsky, a renowned social critic and philosopher, had extended his support and signed the online petition asking PM of India to rehabilitate the people of Narmada Valley first. The Petition has been signed by people of more than 30 countries from all over the world which also includes many social, environmental, human rights, farmers organisation and others. Some of the key groups include Asian Peasant Coalition, Association for India’s Development, Earth International, World Rainforest Movement, The Asian Human Rights Commission, Rivers Without Boundaries International Coalition, Landless Workers Movement – Brazil, International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs – Copenhagen, Denmark and many others.

The letter mentions that the government has closed down the gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam on  16 June 2017 without completing the rehabilitation of more than 40000 families in Narmada Valley. The rehabilitation sites are in poor state and lack the basic amenities that needs to be provided as per the Narmada water disputes Tribunal award.

Madhya Pradesh government is acting against the People’s interest by taking selective interpretation of Supreme Court judgement came out on 8 February 2017 and continuously trying to forcefully evict people without ensuring the rehabilitation of more than 40000 families. In absence of basic facilities and house plots at rehabilitation sites, MP government has built tin shades for temporary resettlement. Government is trying to shift families residing in Narmada Valley to tin shades which is inappropriate and unable to accommodate a whole family, livestocks and tools being used by people. No judgment have ever talked about providing temporary settlement.

The MP Government, Gujarat government, and Government of India does not seem serious at all to ensure the rights of people and rehabilitation of thousands of families residing in the Narmada Valley. Till now, The Government has not initiated any communication with the people sitting on fast for the issues of incomplete rehabilitation although the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan showed his concerns about the health of the people sitting on fast on Twitter along with Uma Bharti, the cabinet minister of Ministry of Water Resources.

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Letter to Prime Minister of India for Justice in Narmada Valley

August 04, 2017

To

Mr. Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of India

7, Race Course Road

New Delhi, India

Dear Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

We are representatives of civil society organisations from many countries writing to you to draw your urgent attention on the struggle for justice by the communities affected by the Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) Dam.

You are well aware about the criticality of the situation, with dam gates closed last month and 40,000 families, who are yet to be rehabilitated, are facing an imminent submergence later this month, or early September. While the state governments have failed to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court, relying on false information, the authorities have sanctioned closure of the dam gates. From newspapers and reports from the ground we learn that the state police have been called in to the villages to enforce evictions, even if it required force to be used.

Sir, you are well aware that forced evictions without adequate rehabilitation is contrary to many of the agreements the Republic of India has signed, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Apart from the statues and guidelines from UN bodies, such a scenario would likely violate international best practices, safeguarding the rights of individuals, particularly women, children and the marginalised.

We have been following the three decade old, non-violent, Gandhian Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA – Save Narmada Movement) the past many years. Taking on the World Bank, which funded the dam in 1985, it helped the Bank review and strengthens its social and environmental safeguard policies and accountability mechanisms. As we write to you, we learn that 12 people, including its senior activist Medha Patkar are on an indefinite fast since July 27. It is disturbing to hear that no senior government official has reached out to them yet for talks.

We support the demands of NBA that submergence should not be allowed until every family is adequately rehabilitated with all basic amenities. While the exact number of people to be rehabilitated is yet to be ascertained, an independent body identifying them would be the first step towards rehabilitation for all. It is appalling to note that while thousands of complaints of the ones moved to the rehabilitation sites – on absence of amenities, bad quality of land and failure to recognise people as oustees, the state governments have got away ‘rehabilitating’ 40,000 families on paper.

Sir, as the Prime Minister of world’s largest democracy, we hope that you will rise to the occasion, with act with all urgency it calls for; to stop the human rights abuses happening the villages of Narmada.

Signed by:

INDIVIDUALS :

1. Albena Simeonova, Europe, Goldman Prize Winner , 1996
2. Anna giordano, Italy, Goldman Prize Winner
3. Cath Wallace, New Zealand, Goldman Prize Winner, 1991
4. Desmond D’Sa, Africa, Goldman Prize Winner, 2014
5. Edward Loure Ole Parmelo, Tanzania, Goldman Prize Winner
6. Heffa Schuecking, urgewald, Germany, Goldman Prize winner 1994
7. Ignace Schops, Beligium, Goldman Prize Winner
8. Ikal Ang’elei, Friends of Lake Turkana, Goldman Prize Winner
9. Jadwiga Lopata, Poland, Goldman Prize Winner
10. John Sinclair AO, Australia, Goldman Prize Winner, 1993
11. Juan Pablo Orrego S., Chile, Goldman Prize Winner, 1997
12. Luis Jorge Rivera-Herrera, Puerto Rico, Goldman Prize Winner, 2016
13. Michal, Slovakia, Goldman Prize Winner, 1990
14. Leng Ouch, Cambodia, Goldman Prize Winner
15. Nat Quansah, Goldman Prize Winner
16. Prafulla Samantara, Goldman Environmental Prize 2017
17. Randall Arauz, Central and South America, Goldman Prize Winner, 2010
18. TarcísioFeitosa, Brazil, Goldman Prize Winner, 2016
19. Ursula Sladek, Germany, Goldman Prize Winner 2011
20. Yuyun Ismawati, Indonesia, Goldman Environmental Prize 2009
21. Zuzana, Slovakia, Goldman Prize Winner
22. Akshay Kayumov, Ecological Cenet Dront, Russia
23. Alan Pdber, VT, USA
24. Alexey Zimenco, Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Moscow
25. Alyansa Tigil Mina, Alliance Against Mining, Phillippines
26. Anitra Nelson, Honorary Associate Prof. At RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
27. Anuradha Mittal, The Oakland Institute, USA
28. Aravinda, Association for India’s Development
29. Arun Aaron, SIAAP
30. Ayesha DSouza, International Rivers, USA
31. Badri Subedi, Indreni Social Development Forum- Nawalparasi, Nepal
32. Bishnu Awasthi, Forum for Local Development, Kanchanpur, Nepal
33. Bruce Rich, Washington DC, USA
34. Bruno Van Peteghem, Paris, France
35. R.H. Clanahan, South Africa
36. Camille Chalmers, PAPDA, Haiti
37. Catherine Blake, Council of Canadians, Mississippi Mills Chapter, Almonte, Canada
38. Cathwallace, New Zealand
39. Claudia Campero, Mexico
40. David Barkin, Prof at Distinguido Universidad Autinoma Metropolitana – Xochimilco, DF, Mexico
41. Defne Gonenc, Switzerland
42. Deo Narayan Yadav, Kosi Victim Society, Saptari, Nepal
43. Doug Hellinger, The Development GAP
44. David Szanton, University of California, Berkeley, USA
45. Dudhnath Gupta, Gandak River Control Struggle Committee, Nepal
46. Edward Loure Ole Parmelo, Tanzania
47. Elaine Zuckerman, Gender Action, USA
48. Ercan Ayboga, Turkey
49. Gabrielle Engh, Langenberger
50. J K Canepa, New York Climate Action Group
51. Jai Sen, World Social Forum, USA
52. Jelson Garcia, Indonesia
53. Jill McManus, NYC Grassroots Alliance, USA
54. Jitendra Yadav, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
55. Joan Martinez Alier, Prof ICTA – Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona
56. Johan Frijns, Bank Track
57. Jyotish Kumar Yadav, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
58. K Sudhir, People’s Architecture Commonwealth
59. Kenji Ago, Japan
60. Krishna Yadav, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
61. Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK
62. MabroukaM’ Barek, former elected member of Tunisian Constituent Assembly
63. Maercia Andrews, Rural Women’s Assembly, Southern Africa
64. Malav Kanuga, Common Nations Press, Brooklyn, NY, USA
65. Mike Levien, USA
66. Nadia Johanisova, Economy and Society Trust, Brno, Czech Republic
67. Nathaniel Don Marquez, Asian NGO Coalition
68. Nicholas Hildyard, The Corner House, UK
69. Nick Meynen, Global Policies and Sustainability
70. Patty Heffley, Former Board of Directors, Pacificia Foundation
71. Prawin Kumar Yadav, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
72. Martin Mantxo, Basque Country
73. Professor Michel Pimbert, Uinited Kingdom
74. Rabin Ghimire, Saptkoshi High Dam Struggle Committee, Sunsari, Nepal
75. Ratan Bhandari, West Seti Dam Affected Community, Bajhang, Nepal
76. Rigine Richter, UrgewaldBuro, Berlin, Germany
77. Rishi Raj Lumsali – Mahakali River and Border Concern Group, West Nepal
78. Saline, Germany
79. Sam Pillai, Toronto, Canada
80. Samir Mehta, International Rivers South Asia
81. Sarath Agustio Rini, Indonesia
82. Sarath Sexton, The Corner House, UK
83. Sarawan Chaudhary, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
84. Sayandeb Chowdhury, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
85. Shalmani Guttal, Focus on Global South, Bankok
86. Siti Maimunah, Mining Advocacy Network, Indonesia
87. Sukhdev Chaudhary, Kosi Victim’s Society, Rajbiraj Saptari, Nepal
88. Tabang, Indonesia
89. Tarcisio Feitosa, Brazil
90. Tchenna, Movement of People affected by Dam, Brazil
91. Thulsy Narayanasamy, UK
92. Tim Kejra Perempuan, Indonesia
93. Toshiyuki Doi, Japan
94. Wenonah Hauter, USA

ORGANISATIONAL

95. Adivasi Koordination, Germany
96. Amnesty International
97. Ana Emilia Poienaru
98. Association for India’s Development
99. ATTAC Morocco, Member of the SADTM Network
100. ATTAC, Argentina
101. Bank Information Center, USA
102. Chile Sustainable Foundation, Chile
103. Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline
104. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Foundation,
105. Democracy Center
106. Earth International
107. Ecologistas en Accion (Espana)
108. Ekologistak Martxan, Basque Country
109. Environmental Justice Team
110. Focus on the Global South
111. Food and Water Watch, USA
112. Friends of the Earth International
113. Gender Action Global Advocacy Organisation, USA
114. Groupe International de Travail pour les peoples Autochtones
115. Human Rights Watch
116. Instituto Pacs – Instituto Politicas Alternativas Parao Cone Sul, Brazil
117. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Copenhagen, Denmark
118. JA Justica Ambiental, Foe, Mozambique
119. La Asamblea Veracruzana da Iniciativas Ambiental (Lavida), Mexico
120. LANDLESS WORKERS MOVEMENT (MST) – BRAZIL
121. Mesopotamia Ecology Movement
122. NGO Forum on ADB
123. Non Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme, Asia
124. Non Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme, India
125. Observatorio de Multinacionales en America Latin – Paz con Dignidad, Spain
126. OT Watch and Rivers Without Boundaries, Mongolia
127. Rainforest Relief, New York, USA
128. Rivers Without Boundaries International Coalition
129. Sierra Club, USA
130. Society for Threatened Peoples, Germany
131. The Asian Human Rights Commission
132. The Elisabeth Haub Law School Student Chapter of National Lawyers Guild
133. The Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, Myanmar
134. The Palestinian Land Defense Coalition
135. Transnational Institute
136. WoMin, South Africa
137. War on Want, UK
138. Waterkeeper Alliance, Bangladesh
139. World Rainforest Movement