‘Will intensify stir before PM’s Gujarat visit’

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists have decided to intensify their stir against Sardar Sarovar Dam against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled inauguration of the controversial project’s new gates on September 17.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, NBA leader Medha Patkar said that while thousands of families were on the verge of drowning in Narmada valley, there will be celebrations in Gujarat where the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly-constructed gates on his birthday.

Denouncing the scheduled inauguration programme as ‘Jashn-e-maut’ (celebration of death), Patkar said that while the government was planning celebrations, thousands of project-affected families in the submergence area were still forced to wait for complete and just rehabilitation.

“Nitin Gadkari who has been given the charge of the water resources ministry, should first listen to our issues and then attend the celebrations in Gujarat”, she said.

The activist recently concluded her ‘Narmada Yatra for justice’ — which she started after she was released from prison on August 24— in Dhar and Barwani districts.

Lashing out at the government for being apathetic towards those hit by the multicrore project, Patkar said nearly 40,000 families in the 214-km stretch upstream Narmada were at the risk of drown when water would rise.

The deadline fixed by SC for SSP affected people to vacate their houses in the submergence area expired on July 31 but a significant number of families in Dhar and Barwani districts continue to remain defiant.

If they don’t vacate their houses soon, the state government can use force to evict them.

Nitin Gadkari, who has been given the charge of the water resources ministry, should first listen to our issues and then attend the celebrations in Gujarat. MEDHA PATKAR , activist