150 supporters from 15 states across India begin 3 day Narmada Adhikar Samvaad Yatra

Team interacts with hundreds of Sardar Sarovar affected from Khalghat, Chhota Barda and Pipri

   Flawed Back Water Levels, Corruption and lack of Rehabilitation exposed

New Declaration for Future of Struggle to be made at Massive Public rally and meeting tomorrow 

23rd August, 2014, Badwani: More than 150 supporters of the people’s struggle in the Narmada Valley began an intensive 3 day long fact finding tour of the various Sardar Sarovar Project affected  villages in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The team included a hydrologist, environmentalists, farmer’s leaders, trade unionists, lawyers, academics, researchers, architects, social work students, representatives of various social movements and organisations as also some supporters from the Aam Aadmi Party. The visit has been organised in the context of the recent illegal decision by the Modi Government to increase the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam by 17 meters and plan to submerge the farms, homes and hearths of more than 2.5 lakh people living in 245 thickly populated affected villages.

In their visit to village Khalghat ( tehsil Dharampuri), the supporters observed the manner in which Khalghat, along with 55 villages has been thrown out of submergence while hundreds of families in this area, including poor workers and fisher people have faced submergence in the monsoon of 2012 and 2013. A large gathering of more than 500 people saw vibrant expression  of support responding to the reality exposed by the oustees.  The support also came in from the former  MLA Panchilal Meda who admitted that not just in Khalghat but in numerous villages in the Dharmpuri area, thousands of families are yet to be rehabilitated. The women in particular, who were present in large numbers expressed a resolution to intensify their struggle in the days to come. Similar was the situation in villages Chhota Barda and Pipri where as well, rallies were organised and hundreds expressed their support to the legitimate demands of the andolan.

The activists from Polavaram Dam struggle, Mahaan Sangharsh Samiti, Kudankulam  anti-nuclear struggle, movements associated with National Alliance of People’s Movements, as also environmentalists from Gujarat participated in the  meetings at various places. The team also halted at the tribal village Mandil which  is has been severely affected  by the excavation by the Indira Sagar canals.

Tomorrow, that is on 24th August a massive rally followed by a large public meeting  at Badwani is being organised in which large numbers of people from many submergence affected villages  would participate and make a new declaration for the future course of the struggle.On the third day the supporters would visit hilly adivasi village at Manibeli after a road and boat journey.

Kamla Yadav   Mohan Bhai   Devram Kanera  Kailash Awasya Bhagirath   

Pavan Yadav   Rahul Yadav  Meera Medha Patkar

Meera:-9179148973
Bilal Khan:- 09958660556