Narmada

Narmada project: clearing the confusion From The Hindu

Q: Why does the Narmada Bachao Andolan not confine itself to talking about rehabilitation? Why is it asking for stoppage of construction?

A: The answer is that in terms of the Narmada Tribunal's Award, the conditions of clearance of the Project, and the Supreme Court's judgments of October 2000 and March 2005, construction is not allowed to outpace rehabilitation work. That is the meaning of the pari passu principle. There is no question of proceeding beyond the height of 110 metres already reached until the failures and deficiencies in rehabilitation work with reference to that height have been remedied, and the prescribed advance steps have been completed with reference to the proposed further increase in height. The NBA is not asking for something new. It is merely asking for compliance with prescribed conditions, not imposing its own.

Q: Is the NBA anti-project, anti-development, as alleged by the Chief Minister of Gujarat?

A: Medha Patkar may have certain views about big dams and `destructive development,' and not everyone may agree with those views, but that is not the point at issue in the present case. The current protest is about failures in rehabilitation, non-compliance with conditions, denial of human rights, and infliction of injustice and suffering.

All things said and done what outrages me the most is that BJP workers destroyed the NBA office. Mr. Modi should have some sense of responsibility and try to prevent that after all he is the part of the govt. Just because there are some people who do not agree with him does not mean that he has the right to beat them up or threaten them in any way. Also I am surprised by lack of media coverage this is getting. Most TV channels are showing them destroying/burning Amir Khan's pictures... What good does that do. And happily Congress is letting BJP do the dirty work of bashing Amir where as their Govt in MP is responsible for major rehabilitation. My advise to Mr. Modi will be get after the people who haven't taken care of the rehabilitation and get the project moving. The way he is going maybe will keep him in the news but do people no good.
Also some of the comments from Narander Modi and even Arundathi Rai seem to be suggesting that the common man has no right to support the cause that he/she wants. Mr. Modi is asking why was Amir not there for people living on the streets of Kashmir and Ms. Arundathi is asking about his coke add.