நரேந்திர மோடியே! உனது பொய்க்கு அளவில்லையா!

தினம் பொய்கைளையே பேசி வரும் நரேந்திர மோடி புதிதாக உதிர்த்த முத்து 'சர்தார் சரோவர் அணை இன்று வரை திறக்கப்படாமல் இருப்பதற்கு காரணம் நமது பிரதமரும், ஆளும் காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியுமே' என்று உளறி கொட்டியுள்ளார். இதன் உண்மை நிலையை இந்த பதிவில் பார்ப்போம்.

இந்த அணை இன்று வரை திறக்கப்படாததற்கு முக்கிய காரணமே சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட். மக்கள் மத்தியில் அதனை சொல்லாமல் காங்கிரஸின் மேல் பழியைப் போட்டு தான் ஒரு ஃபேக் என்பதை மீண்டும் நிரூபித்துள்ளார்.

இந்த அணை கட்டுமான இடத்தில் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பொது மக்களுக்கு உரிய நிவாரணத்தை குஜராத் அரசு இன்று வரை அளிக்கவில்லை. நர்மதா கட்டுப் பாட்டு ஆணையம் என்பது நமது சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் நியமித்த ஒன்று. இதற்கும் காங்கிரஸூக்கும் சம்பந்தம் இல்லை என்பதை சாதாரண பொது மக்களும் புரிந்து கொள்வர். ஆனால் அடுத்த பிரதமர் நானே என்று எங்கு சென்றாலும் உளறித் தள்ளும் நரேந்திர மோடிக்கு இது தெரியாதது ஆச்சரியமாக உள்ளது.

In order dated 18 October 2000 in Narmada Bachao Andolan Vs. Union of India and others the then Chief Justice B. N. Kirpal, Justice Dr. A. S. Anand clearly stated :

“23. Narmada Control Authority was empowered to constitute one or more sub-committees and assign to them such of the functions and delegate such of its powers as it thought fit. Accordingly, the Narmada Control Authority constituted the following discipline based sub-groups:

(i) Resettlement and Rehabilitation sub-group under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Welfare;

(ii) Rehabilitation Committee under Secretary, Minister of Welfare to supervise the rehabilitation process by undertaking visits to R & R sites and submergence villages.

(iii) Environment Sub-group under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests;

[…]

132. It is also contended that before embarking on the Sardar Sarovar Project it was necessary that the Master Plan for rehabilitation of the families to be affected is completed.

[…]

155. On 13th November, 1996, a meeting of the Review Committee of the Narmada Control Authority chaired by the Union Minister of Water Resources was held. This meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of all the States including Rajasthan and representatives of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. In the meeting it was unanimously decided that the reviews of the implementation of re-settlement and rehabilitation measures will be undertaken for every five meter height of the dam jointly by the concerned R & R Sub-group and Environmental Sub-group so that work could progress pari passu with the implementation measurers.”

As the order clearly states that the reviews of the implementation of re-settlement and rehabilitation measures will be undertaken for every five meter height of the dam jointly by the concerned R & R Sub-group and Environmental Sub-group so that work could progress pari passu with the implementation measurers.

People of Gujarat should note that this “pari passu” clause is preventing the GATE installation on Sardar Sarovar Dam and the concerned authority is the Narmada Control Authority. ‘Pari Passu’ is a Latin term which roughly translated means “at an equal pace.”

I advise Mr. Modi to read this order afresh and understand it.

The Supreme Court Order further states that

“166. … The R & R Sub-group and Rehabilitation Committee of Narmada Control Authority are responsible for applying its independent mind on R & R. The Sub-group convenes its meeting regularly to monitor and review the progress of R & R while Rehabilitation Committee visits the submergence areas/relocation sites to see whether the rehabilitation is taking place physically and to hear the individual problems of the PAPs. The R & R group, keeping in view the progress of relief and rehabilitation, has not permitted the height to be raised, until and unless it is satisfied that adequate satisfactory progress has been made with regard to R & R.”

The order further clearly states that the R & R group, keeping in view the progress of relief and rehabilitation, has not permitted the height to be raised, until and unless it is satisfied that adequate satisfactory progress has been made with regard to R & R.

The order further states and clarify that

“174. … In the Narmada Control Authority, Re-settlement & Rehabilitation (R & R) Sub-group has been created for closely monitoring the R & R progress. This Sub-group is headed by the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is represented by Members/Invitees of participating States, academic institutions having expertise in R & R, independent socio- anthropological experts and non-Governmental Organisations. The functions of this Sub-group are as follows:

1. To monitor the progress of land acquisition in respect of submergence land of Sardar Sarovar Project and Indira (Narmada) Sagar Project (ISP).

2. To monitor the progress of implementation of the action plan of rehabilitation of project affected families in the affected villages of SSP and ISP in concerned states.

3. To review the R & R action plan from time to time in the light of results of the implementation.

4. To review the reports of the agencies entrusted by each of the State in respect of monitoring and evaluation of the progress in the matter of re-settlement and rehabilitation.

5. To monitor and review implementation of re-settlement and rehabilitation programmes pari passu with the raising of the dam height, keeping in view the clearance granted to ISP and SSP from environmental angle by the Government of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

6. To coordinate states/agencies involved in the R & R programmes of SSP and ISP.

7. To undertake any or all activities in the matter of re-settlement and rehabilitation pertaining to SSP and ISP.”

At the end of the order Supreme Court clearly states that

“DIRECTIONS

250. … (ii) ensuring compliance with conditions on which clearance of the project was given including completion of relief and rehabilitation work and taking of ameliorative and compensatory measures for environmental protection in compliance with the scheme framed by the Government thereby protecting the rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. Keeping these principles in view, we issue the following directions.

1) Construction of the dam will continue as per the Award of the Tribunal.

2) As the Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-group has cleared the construction up to 90 meters, the same can be undertaken immediately. Further raising of the height will be only pari passu with the implementation of the relief and rehabilitation and on the clearance by the Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-group. The Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-Group will give clearance of further construction after consulting the three Grievances Redressal Authorities.

3) The Environment Sub-group under the Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India will consider and give, at each stage of the construction of the dam, environment clearance before further construction beyond 90 meters can be undertaken.

4) The permission to raise the dam height beyond 90 meters will be given by the Narmada Control Authority, from time to time, after it obtains the above-mentioned clearances from the Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-group and the Environment Sub-group.

5) The reports of the Grievances Redressal Authorities, and of Madhya Pradesh in particular, shows that there is a considerable slackness in the work of identification of land, acquisition of suitable land and the consequent steps necessary to be taken to rehabilitate the project oustees. We direct the States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat to implement the Award and give relief and rehabilitation to the oustees in terms of the packages offered by them and these States shall comply with any direction in this regard which is given either by the NCA or the Review Committee or the Grievances Redressal Authorities.

6) Even though there has been substantial compliance with the conditions imposed under the environment clearance the NCA and the Environment Sub-group will continue to monitor and ensure that all steps are taken not only to protect but to restore and improve the environment.

7) The NCA will within four weeks from today draw up an Action Plan in relation to further construction and the relief and rehabilitation work to be undertaken. Such an Action Plan will fix a time frame so as to ensure relief and rehabilitation pari passu with the increase in the height of the dam. Each State shall abide by the terms of the action plan so prepared by the NCA and in the event of any dispute or difficulty arising, representation may be made to the Review Committee. However, each State shall be bound to comply with the directions of the NCA with regard to the acquisition of land for the purpose of relief and rehabilitation to the extent and within the period specified by the NCA.”

Narmada has always been used for political expediency by both the political parties in Gujarat.

The NCA has recently clarified its position the SSP status report on its website. After 2006. several NCA meetings took place, but in none decision was taken to give go ahead for gate installation. The Gujarat government had at one state as a last attempt tried to get the permission to build pillars for the gate but that too was denied, as the rehabilitation compliance has not taken place.

What Gujarat government markets as a holiday package in monsoon with an overflowing dam, actually causes devastating effect when the backwaters of this overflowing dam submerges several villages in neighboring Madhya Pradesh. It was last year that Madhya Pradesh villages suffered unprecedented submergence in the Narmada Valley.

Presently the reservoir waters at the present 122 meters height are not being even fully used as the several CAG reports have pointed.

The Supreme Court clearly states in conclusion that the Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-Group will give clearance of further construction after consulting the three Grievances Redressal Authorities and permission to raise the dam height beyond 90 meters will be given by the Narmada Control Authority, from time to time, after it obtains the above-mentioned clearances from the Relief and Rehabilitation Sub-group and the Environment Sub-group and each State shall be bound to comply with the directions of the NCA with regard to the acquisition of land for the purpose of relief and rehabilitation to the extent and within the period specified by the NCA.

Rohit Prajapati

Social Activist of Gujarat