| |
Home
About Us
Member Services
Members
Research
Resources
Urgent Actions
Events
Publications
Join us
Contact us
Links
Jobs
|
|
OPPOSE RAISING SSP DAM HEIGHT TO 121 METRES
2004-09-13
The Government of Gujarat has put forth a proposal to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) dam to 121 metres. Write to the Prime Minister to oppose this draconian proposition that will result in even more rampant devastation.
Already more than 10,000 families are facing the danger of submergence without resettlement. The Maharashtra government does not have the will and resources to resettle even the 3000 odd affected families, while the M.P. government has abandoned any responsibility for land-based resettlement. Increased dam height would mean forced eviction without adequate rehabilitation and therefore destitution for thousands of more families.
The Sardar Sarovar Project is facing a stark financial crisis. In early August, several villages in the command area were flooded due to a breach in the main canal of the project. Instead of addressing the current flaws in the project, the Gujarat government has chosen to ignore the facts and seek further political mileage by insisting on an increase in dam height.
It is well established that:
· The Governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra have still not been able to resettle the oustees below the current 110 metres;
· The state governments do not have the land or resources to resettle the present number of displaced people, and therefore will not be able to resettle the thousands more who will be displaced by a further increase of the dam height;
· Displacing the people without community-based, land-based resettlement 6 months prior to the submergence is illegal and against the Supreme Court order (1991 and 2000); and
· The so-called benefits of the dam are becoming more and more uncertain.
Given the above reasons, any proposal to raise the dam height further will be anathema.
Chairman R&R Sub-Group of NCA, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-1. (Ph. )
|
|
|
