Despite maximum losses, MP has failed politically on Sardar Sarovar: Medha

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: “Madhya Pradesh is a state that is facing the worst impact of Sardar Sarovar project and would be getting least benefits, yet politicians have squarely failed to convert it into an emphatic issue,” Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar said on Tuesday.

In Bhopal after calling off the indefinite sit-in at Rajghat in Barwani two days ago, Patkar said that it was indeed unfortunate and shocking that even the opposition failed to rake up the issue that was impacting not only people, but also environment, culture and heritage on a vast stretch of Narmada Valley.

“Madhya Pradesh will not receive even a drop of water from the project, there is big question mark on the amount of power to be actually generated (of which MP is to get 56%) and yet over 45000 families of 193 villages and 1 entire town of the state are on verge of being submerged without proper rehabilitation. How is that even justified? And yet strangely it does not raise a political storm,” Patkar said while speaking to NewsBits.in.

The NBA leader said there is strong indication that plans are afoot to lower the gates of the dam by year end as political announcement to this effect are being already made in Gujarat. “But we – meaning the affected people of Narmada valley would not let that happen,” she said.

No environmental compliance in 30 years

Patkar charged that none of the eight conditions laid down for environmental clearance to the project were complied with by the authorities even 30 years after the clearance was granted.

Without these compliances, the next phase of project (lowering of gates) should not be allowed, she said.

After receiving a memorandum to this effect from NBA recently, the environment and forest minister Anil Dave has promised an independent review to assess the compliance on environment aspects, the NBA leader said.

“Let us see what happens. As of now, the authorities have not been able to complete even the seismology impact, downstream impact studies or catchment area treatment. None of the nine seismology observatories of MP government are working even,” she said.