The indefinite fast by Medha Patkar for the immediate rehabilitation of the
tribals of the Sardar Sarovar Project on war footing has entered in third
day on Sunday (June 1), with eight organizations of the dam-oustees in
different
parts of Maharashtra have warned to join the indefinite fast, thus spreading
the issue of displacement and resettlement in all parts of the state.

The Irrigation Ministry of Maharashtra government had invited the
organizations of the oustees of the large dams in the state including those
in Jayakwadi, Tapi, Gosi Khurd, Lower Penganga, Sapli, Pench, Upper Wardha,
Wang-Marathwadi, Totladoh, and Punarvasan Sangharsha Samiti along with
Sardar Sarovar affected people, for a discussion on the issues pertaining to
displacement and resettlement, on June 4. However, the organizations
informed that such a meeting should be held at Nashik Dharna place only.
Immediately
after that the state government cancelled the meeting on some the pretext of
the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The organizations shot back a letter to the
state government that the meeting should be held as per scheduled by May 5,
failing which all of them will be joining the indefinite mass action at
Nashik dharna.

Of Threats and Extortion

While the Nashik mass action for the just resettlement is still, the
Maharashtra police tried to intimidate the tribals in the Chimalkhedi
village
in Akkalkuwa tehsil on May 29,on a flimsy pretext. The police also
threatened
the people that they will be forced out of their villages by demolishing
their houses on the banks of Narmada. Earlier, the government had issued
notices through police, warning them to vacate the villages in the wake of
submergence. Now the police is amassing at the Molgi Police station for any
eventual onslaught on the villages. In a strongly worded protest letter to
the Rehabilitation Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Vilas Kaka Patil, the tribal
leaders of Narmada Bachao Andolan Noorji Padvi, Keersingh Vasave alongwith
Medha Patkar condemned these intimidatory tactics and warned of real
confrontation in the villages.

The NBA also alleged that the Resettlement officer in Taloda has extorted
bribes of Rs. 10,000 each from many farmers willing to sell their barren
lands for the resettlement, at Tarhawad resettlement site. It seems that
the Gujarat pattern of rehabilitation with bribe will be repeated here. The
farmers are ready to sell off their uncultivable lands for the resettlement
of Narmada oustees. This is but gross injustice. It is also reported that
the Forest department officials and employees are exhorting over
Rs.4000-5000 from each oustee family for transporting their belongings to the
resettlement
site. Without the money the officials do not issue passes. The NBA warned
that the fraud and extortion should stop with immediate effect of face stiff
resistance.

Meanwhile, the indefinite dharna and fast is receiving increasing support
from the number of organizations and movements from Nashik and adjacent
region. Number of senior activists from Maharashtra involved with the
Anti-superstition Movement participated in dharna on Saturday. The tribal
Member of Parliament from the region, Haribhau Mahale assured to take up
the issue at center and state level. The Nashik-based people's organizations
will have a campaign of corner meetings in entire city and compel the
government
to initiate the immediate actions for the just resettlement.


Sanjay Sangvai