NBA may be attached to the tribals and others whose livelyhood depends on the river. But the increase in height is going to help of lot more people's water problem than the people who are affected by it. Rather than protesting against the increase in heights, protest if the government is not doing enough to help the displaced people. It is really hard to leave a place where you all may have lived for 100 or more yrs. But India's development is the main priority. As the govt has agreed to help the displaced, buy their argument and protest if the govt is not doing enough to help the displaced. Hunger strike is Old . Develop some new technique rather than spoiling your own health. Medha Patkar's strike is not justified according to me IF she is really fighting against the increase in Dam's height.
Visualise this Dam Supporters: Say by some twist of circumstance the area around where you are staying at the moment is deemed rich in OIL reserves and for that matter the government decides to mine it by driving you, your family and your entire town out of your homes. But of course before that, it decides arbitrarily and unilaterally on a compensation package without taking any of you in confidence. It then sends touts in the region to fleece a portion off whatever little you are entitled in Cash (which the Narmada States Tribunal has deemed illegal) or say if it is Land, it is some place which is cut off from civilisation and where you have no clue how to sustain yourself. Worse, in case you peacefully agitate they say you are a traitor to the larger national cause. Not just that but if you resist, they blank you out as a statistic, play the media to their advantage and send police reinforcements to forcibly throw you out of a place where you and your family have stayed for so long? Would you then have the guts and the temerity to turn on a Medha Patkar who will be yet again fighting for your just rehabilitation? Or would you valiantly sacrifice ALL for THE LARGER NATIONAL GOOD?
Gandhi chose to bring the society and the nation together with his famous hunger strikes. Medha is doing just for her own sake now. I've seen this nonsense going on for decades now (since my teens and I'm into my late thirties at present). Had she been honest to her cause, the issue might have been resolved years ago. It's an important issue. We must have a fair policy about development and the social cost that we have to pay as a result. The concept of Narmada Bachao Andolan is relevant, but Medha's antics are not. A hell lot of time has been wasted, the matter has been sub-judice and is being guided by the top judicial authority in India,...yet she continues with her threats to die of hunger.
Many in Gujarat and around - who have been a witness to this bizarre drama since its inception - wouldn't mind if she was allowed to carry out that threat now!
Visualise this Dam Supporters: Say by some twist of circumstance the area around where you are staying at the moment is deemed rich in OIL reserves and for that matter the government decides to mine it by driving you, your family and your entire town out of your homes. But of course before that, it decides arbitrarily and unilaterally on a compensation package without taking any of you in confidence. It then send touts in the region to fleece a portion off whatever little you are entitled in Cash (which the Narmada States Tribunal has deems illegal) or say if it is Land, it is some place which is cut off from civilisation and where you have no clue how to sustain yourself. Worse, in case you peacefully agitate they say you are a traitor to the larger national cause. Not just that but if you resist, they blank you out as a statistic, play the media to their advantage and send police reinforcements to forcibly throw you out of a place where you and your family have stayed for so long? Would you then have the guts and the temerity to turn on a Medha Patkar who will be yet again fighting for your just rehabilitation? Or would you valiantly sacrifice ALL for THE LARGER NATIONAL GOOD???
There are a few good politicians who work really for development of India(like Gujarat CM).The activists and others should not try to interrupt the developmental work but should concentrate on some useful work for the nation
