Dear Friend, As per the figures of Government only 9% of the land in Kutch and Saurashtra will become irrigable due to Sardar Sarovar dam and that too if the dam functions at full capacity. Majority of dam projects inclding the Bhakhra Nangal dam never do so. The projected debt equity ratio inspite of fudged figures cannot qualify for a viable project and if environmental costs are factored it the project is a collosal waste. Add the human cost and we are in for a tragedy on a gigantic scale. Most likely the water will go to amusement parks. Rain water harvesting, check dams can give better results at microscopic cost and with enrichment of the environment and no human displacement worth the name. So check your figures before you attack Medha Patker. Vispi
No one pays price for a cause of the oppressed with her/his own life unless s/he is committed to the core. An indefinite hunger Strike cannot be simply a publicity stunt, not atleast ofter 3-4 days. It involves risking one's life and existence. To stand by one's commitment to the poor...and at the cost of one's life, health and all sorts of comforts is far more than we can imagine. Medha Patkar, over the years has stood tall not because she went after publicity but her commitment is such that it cannot go unnoticed even by those who do not like her being that way. We need leadership of this kind to change our nation.
It is infuriating to see politicians like Narendra Modi taking up token fasts to whip up public frenzy. To top it all to use the pretext of pride of Gujarat is outrageous.
The NBA and most other activists allover the country affected by big dams, have long since given up the hope that the construction of big dams can be stopped now. The constuction mafia - politician nexus runs too deep and is too powerful for common man to take on. They have the means and the clout to influence the judiciary and the entire political establishment. on the other hand all that the activists are asking for now is proper rehabilitation of people displaced by such projects. And to deny even that, is to deny the fundamental right to live.
I think this time the NBA has managed to tap the imagination of people and this movement will spread like wildfire in all places where such rahabilitation of diplaced people has been neglected.
Hats off to Medha for sticking to her guns and raising the conscience of the people at the cost of her own health.
She is trying to prove only one point, rehabiliate the people who are going to lose their lands which is the main source of their livelihood.. The Govt has been careless in this respect... We cannot overlook this problem.... Its good that many states would benifit from this dam, but at the cost of those poor farmers who are going to lose everything because of this dam..This would not be a fair decision..
People who are against her are only thinking about their benifit and not thinking about the people who would be at the risk if they are not rehabiliated and the Dam is built...
People start thinking about them... Lets be united & support Medha, so that the people get what they deserve.. I pray to god that she ends her hunger strike soon..
Narmada Dam is the lifeline of Gujarat. We are very sensitive about the issue, because we have faced water problem since long. As far as Megha is concerned, she has always puts obstacles towards rehabilitation. Her only aim is for some international award. When Supreme Court of India has settled everything about the Dam, (and all the petitions are filed by her so called NGOs) she has no reason to do anything now. She is now insulting the Supreme Court now. As far as that film actor is concerned, just ask him how much much he gets in white and how much in black, as a good citizen of India. (he is calleding himself good citizen). This joker should worry about rehabilitations of pandits of Kashmir. God save our country from such people.
