A front named “Narmada Abhiyan” comprising of MLAs of different parties in Gujarat has given a memorandum to the Central government, demanding that work on the dam must go on.
NEW DELHI: Under pressure from Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and its leader Medha Patkar's threat to fast unto death, the government is now facing a counter pressure from Gujarat. A front named “Narmada Abhiyan” comprising of MLAs of different parties in Gujarat has given a memorandum to the Central government, demanding that work on the dam must go on.
Several Gujarat Congress leaders, led by Ahmad Patel, had reportedly met party chief Sonia Gandhi some days ago. They are believed to have told her that the UPA government should not be seen as giving in to pressure from the NBA activists and that work on the dam should not stop.
They also reportedly told Sonia that in case such a thing did happen, the Congress would have no hope of dislodging Narendra Modi and the BJP from the state for a long time. Faced with conflicting pulls and pressures, the government is not in a hurry to take a decision. The Prime Minister's Office is keeping quiet for the moment on status report of the relief and rehabilitation of the people displaced by the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam.
Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, who led a team to review the rehabilitation programme in the Sardar Sarovar Project areas, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday and submitted a report. Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar and Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan were the other members of the team.
The government is looking at several alternatives. One of the suggestions being considered is that while work on the dam continues, the rehabilitation process should be speeded up. Efforts are on to try and work out a way that balances conflicting interests without too much political damage.
The ministerial team was dispatched after Medha Patkar went on an indefinite fast demanding complete rehabilitation of the families affected by the project and immediate halt of construction work at the dam. Patkar was removed to AIIMS last week, as her health deteriorated.
The Narmada Control Authority, at a recent meeting, had decided to increase the height of the dam to 121.92 meters from the current 112 meters. NBA claims that 35,000 families will be rendered homeless by the government's decision to increase the height of the dam. The decision raised a furore, prompting Saifuddin Soz to call for a review of the decision.
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