The Hitvada, May 6 2017: The rally organised by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) witnessed participation of good number of activist and outsees. The rally was organised under the leadership of convener of NBA Medha Patkar. Under the banner Chalo Bhopal good number of people were seen assembled at Shahjahani Park.
Talking about the rally Medha Patkar said that the main focus of the rally was to pressurise state government to do the needful to ensure proper compensation to the outsees as in MP total 40 to 45 ooo families are affected and need to be provided proper rehabilitation but till now no proper strategy has been chalked out. The deadline for this has been given as July 31 2017 by Supreme Court but State Government has yet to take proper initiative .
She also said that more than 2000 representatives from the Narmada valley have arrived in Bhopal in complete defiance to Narmada Control Authority (NCA) as they cannot take the illegal decision to close the gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam during their May 9 NCA meeting.
The people of Sardar Sarovar Dam region and the Narmada valley are against this inhuman, distorted idea of development and demand their right to life and livelihood.
Green Nobel Prize winner Prafulla Samantara said that proper measures needs to be taken so that no discrimination takes place. Monetary compensation was considered as proposed land compensation was not feasible due to non-availability of land bank. There has to good and fertile land that could have be given as compensation. NBA claimed that the Sardar Sarovar Project oustees, including thousands of adivasis and farmers, have been waiting for land-based rehabilitation of many years, NBA had said.
The rally concluded at Neelam Park. They also said that Narmada Seva Yatra is being organised at grand manner by State Government but it also needs to bring in effective steps so that no human rights violations takes place during compensation.
Web: http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2017/5/6/NBA-protests-against-NCA-decision-%C2%A0to-close-Sardar-Sarovar-Dam-gates.aspx
