Statement of Solidarity – August 31, 2019
We, members of the civil society organizations from 12 countries express our deep concern at the growing humanitarian crisis in Narmada valley, in Central India, where thousands of families are evicted without rehabilitation for the Sardar Sarovar (Narmada dam). We are also concerned about the deteriorating health of Medha Patkar, the senior activist, who is into her 7th day of indefinite fast.
The dam, initially financed by the World Bank, has been in the center of controversy for a number of things, including its poor track record of rehabilitation of the affected communities. We learn that flouting all policies and guidelines, nearly 32,000 families are yet to be rehabilitated while the dam construction has been completed and the reservoir is getting filled rapidly.
The Narmada struggle has been an inspiration to a number of organizations world over. Its relentless fight made the World Bank withdraw its financing to the project in the early ’90s, compelled the Bank to institute the Inspection Panel – the first accountability mechanism in any multilateral bank – and continues to inspire struggles world-over with its nonviolent struggle.
We stand in solidarity with the Narmada struggle. We demand the Government of India, and concerned state governments to address the demands of the struggle and avoid a humanitarian crisis.
Signed:
- Alliance to Stop Mining, Philippines
- Arab Watch Coalition, Morocco
- Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente, AIDA – USA
- Bank Information Center, USA
- Bank Information Centre Europe, The Netherlands
- Barbara Bramble, USA
- Brent Blackwelder, USA
- Bruch Rich, USA
- Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka
- Centre for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia
- Corner House, United Kingdom
- David Hunter, American University Washington College of Law, USA
- Focus on the Global South, Thailand
- Foundation Earth, USA
- Friends of the Earth U.S, USA
- Gender Action, USA
- Green Advocates International
- Green Advocates USA
- Inclusive Development International, Cambodia
- International Accountability Project, USA
- Lumiere Synergie pour le Developpement, Senegal
- NGO Forum on ADB, Philippines
- Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition, Russia
- The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), The Netherlands.
- The Oakland Institute, USA
- Ulu Foundation, USA
- Urgewald, Germany
