The Supreme Court judgement was based on rehabilitation information presented by the state governments, which have now come in for harsh criticism for misleading the court about the status of the rehabilitation process. The NBA is taking the position that government representatives committed perjury. If this is proved it could lead to prosecutions of senior government officials.
Meanwhile, Medha Patkar, NBA members and villagers have decided to offer their lives to the waters (Jal Samarpan), if the dam construction is not stopped. If the calls of the people are heard and construction is halted, the NBA has said it would embark on a 'Jan Samarpan', involving at least 50 people working for one or two years for the people of the valley.
On July 18, the main approach to many of the villages had already been submerged at many places. If the gates of the Tawa and Bargi dams upstream are opened, the water level will rise rapidly, submerging the satyagraha site.
The struggle against the Narmada projects has come to symbolise much more than a struggle against the construction of a few thousand dams on one river. It has challenged widely held assumptions and raised very basic questions of what is acceptable in the name of development, the nature of our democracy and our political system itself.
For the people of the valley, the Narmada struggle has entered a critical phase. They see this as a life and death matter now and have launched a civil disobedience movement inspired by the freedom struggle.
More information and regular updates on the struggle in the Narmada valley are available at: www.narmada.org
(Please do bookmark this site before you leave)
This monsoon, as the waters rise, there is an urgent need for food supplies, tarpaulins and medicines. Sanctuary readers who would like to help the NBA financially or in other ways can write cheques in favour of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (or Lok Samittee if an 80G certificate is required) and can contact:
Pervin Jehangir,
261, Jupiter Apts, 41, New Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005.
Write a letter endorsing your support.
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