Whither Medha Patkar? Whither Arundhati Roy? Whither
the Social activists of national eminence? Medha Patkar , the founder of Narmada
Bachao Andolan (NBA), Arundhati Roy and the prominent social activists who were
in the forefront to lead an agitation which lasted for months, if not years, over
the Sardar Sarovar Dam issue, against the govt and bureaucracy to stop
forthwith the building of a mega dam on the Narmada river years ago, all of
them seem to have melted into thin year. Though their determined fight proved
infructous due to the Supreme Court Judgement, they could inspire the farmers
and their families to take up cudgels against the govt. Due to the construction
of the mega dam, people in the vicinity, most of them agriculturists were
forced to evacuate their lands and as a result they languished due to the
displacement forcing them flee to the urban areas, leaving their age-old profession
of agriculture. Though the govt before starting to construct a mega dam had
promised rehabilitation, the hapless ones had to satisfy with the meager
amounts distributed by the govt. Those who struggled for years under the
spirited, determined leadership of a never-say-die Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy
and a number of eminent social activists, the leaders who were on the vanguard
in spite of tireless efforts to bring the govt to its knees couldn’t succeed.
The Supreme Court verdict reportedly went against the farmers in the vicinity
of Narmada which justified the movement of govt to construct the mega dam which
left the agitationists high and dry. The whereabouts of the poor who were
displaced without providing rehabilitation facilities and adequate compensation
are unknown to an average citizen like me.
Now that a powerful but a non-violent struggle is
going on in Madhya Pradesh with the reported decision of Shivraj Singh Chauhan
govt to raise the level of the dam from 189 ft to 193ft which decision threatened
the farmers around the area with displacement. More over a number of villages
are facing submergence. The decision to raise the level of Omkareshwar Dam and
Indira Sagar Dam forced the inhabitants in the area to undertake ‘Jal Satyagraha’
ignoring the threats to their life. For over a week and more these farmers are
spending their days, by standing in neck-deep water to compel the State govt to
backtrack from its attempt of raising the water level. With the threat of water
level rising which hangs over them like the proverbial sword of Democles, the
govt have found itself in a quandary. The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights
Commission’s direction to the govt not to raise the water level which could
prove fatal to the farmers undertaking ‘Jal Satyagraha’ has forced the govt to
obey the order of the Commission. The govt have given assurance to the
commission and other activists that it will not do anything which is likely to
cause the drowning of those undertaking Satyagraha.
The farmers demand for rehabilitation and deserving
compensation has not been met by the govt so far. Until their demands are met
they are bent upon continuing the ‘Jal Satyagraha’ indefinitely.
This time political leaders especially the Leftists
are in the forefront to demand the govt to find an immediate and amicable solution
to the serious problems to the satisfaction of the farmers around the area.
Brinda Karat CPI(M) Polit-Buro member and the champion of the downtrodden is
already seized of the burning issue and has demanded the govt to do the needful
without delay. The Shivraj Singh Chauhan govt has come under scathing attack by
Brinda Karat for not taking adequate measures to chalk out a solution to end
the impasse once and for all. Her statement that before taking a decision to
raise the dam level from 189ft to 193 ft the most important step govt should
have taken was to provide the farmers who depend on agriculture since
generations with proper resettlement and other reliefs which the govt have so
far cared not to implement. It is beyond our imagination the fate of the
farmers if they are not properly rehabilitated and rendered homeless by the
govt.
Omkareshwar Dam is one of the biggest dams built on
Narmada which could produce 520 Mhz of power. At a time even developed
countries have stopped constructing mega dams, a developing country like India
continues to build such dams the consequences of which will be unpredictable.
CPI National Secretary D Raja has also demanded the
govt to desist from the plan of raising level of the dam.
It is time political leaders as well as social
activists come to the forefront and take up the issue and force the govt not to
proceed along the path which could prove a disaster. Only a united, determined
and spirited struggle could help the struggling farmers of not only Madhya
Pradesh but farmers of India as a whole.
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