The 30th anniversary of the Narmada dam oustees’ struggle for rehabilitation and resettlement underlines the need for a just land acquisition Bill that makes the consent of owners and a proper Social Impact Assessment (SIA) mandatory.
The people displaced by dam projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, sitting on dharna at the Jantar Mantar here, questioned the government about the rehabilitation of people displaced by large projects and the use of acquired land.
They said the Chief Ministers of the political parties now fighting for consent and SIA in Parliament had ignored these features from the Narmada package and forced cash compensation on the oustees. “Those who fought for participatory rehabilitation practices are still struggling. First, the cash offered was paltry, and then those who fell for it blew it up and now have nothing for their future,” the protesters said.
People in the struggle have grown old. “I was a young woman when the waters submerged our land. We have lost our only means of livelihood,” said Bhagwati, 51, of Nisarpur.
“Why should we be made to sacrifice our all and why not the haves who want the land for sporting activities and recreation,” asked Devrambhai, 61.
The struggle has reached a decisive stage with the government deciding to raise the height of the Narmada dam to its final height of 138.6 metres. Latika Rajput of Maharashtra says there is no recognition for families facing submergence or those displaced.
Raj Kachroo, a former hydrology professor at the National University of Ireland, said there was no law for reservoir operation. In rivers with several dams, water was released without warning, affecting those downstream.
Medha Patkar, leader of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, said: “There cannot be land acquisition without a participatory approach. The government cannot take away the best of agriculture land.”
