The Hindu : New Delhi News : Save every drop of water: Patkar

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Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Save every drop of water: Patkar

Staff Reporter

"Development policies of the Govt. did not reward those who used the least water"

Medha Patkar

NEW DELHI: With the controversial shopping mall near Vasant Kunj here serving as a backdrop, environment groups and activists gathered together on Saturday to hear the woman who has become an icon for those fighting against injustice -- Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar. Cutting across class boundaries, the meeting was attended by residents of Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj and slums of Kusumpur Pahari.

Pointing out that people don't think about the water problem in depth, Ms. Patkar said it was important to save every drop that falls on the ground. "We don't think about this. We start getting upset about water not reaching us, but we have to start with each drop. If we manage to store each drop closest to where it falls with small dams, then it will percolate into the ground and get recharged,'' she asserted.

Ms. Patkar said the development policies of the Government did not reward those who used the least water like the poor farmers. Instead, the Government claims that they were a "burden'' on the resources, she said.

Addressing the women living in Kusumpur Pahari who had come out in large numbers for the meeting, Ms. Patkar said: "If people like you who consume not more than 40 litres of water a day don't get access to it, then the Government has no right to be in power.''

Stating that cities were rapidly turning into concrete jungles, she said that the dreams of people had changed. "Earlier even in Hindi movie songs, there were references to a courtyard, but now people are so obsessed with buildings that they don't want to leave an inch without plaster. But if everything becomes concretised, then from where will the water escape into the ground? If people don't think about saving some ground, then there will be an environment disaster,'' she warned.

Calling on people to stick to "satya'', Ms. Patkar said if people don't keep in touch with the truth, then they would be responsible for "terrorism''. "Terrorism is not only the kind that knocked down a big building in another country killing 3,000 people. It is also about destroying nature and water resources, which is being done in the name of development,'' she said.

Strongly criticising the Government for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, she said it would allow private investment and all the development would be in the hands of parties like Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

"The Government has become an agent. Tribals are not allowed to sell land to non-tribals. But when it comes to the Government, then it is okay,'' she said.

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