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High but not dry

  • 14/09/1997

The Koliyari dam in the Panchmahals district of Gujarat is yet another project that has elicited heated reactions. The dam is estimated to render about 8,000 tribals and double the number of cattle homeless. Although officials claim that only three villages - Patangdi, Guna and Navagam - would be submerged, it is estimated that much more land and many more villages would be affected. Cons-truction on this Rs 689.13 lakh-dam, which began on January 1, this year, is aimed at benefiting 1910 ha of agricultural land. But in doing so it is also likely to submerge 1620 ha.

"Right from day one, we tribals have been getting only verbal assurances," says the sarpanch (head of the village) of Navagam, Sonakii Patel. A demonstration held on July 31 was the first-ever staged by the oustees. The tribals are being backed by activists belonging to about a dozen non-governmental organisa tions (NGOs), including the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the People's Union for Civil Liberties (Vadodara) and Vadodara Kamdar Union.

Representatives belonging to eight NGOs have urged the chief minister, Shankarsinh Vaghela to stop the work at Koliyari,initiate a dialogue with those affected by it and avoid inflicting such displacement and misery when there are cheaper and less destructive alternatives. According to them, some villagers have not even been informed about their displacement. In a letter to Patel, the department concerned has simply informed that the villagers would be given land if the government can get some or else they would be compensated at approximately the rate of Rs 1,000 per hectare. "Under circumstances where there is no proper survey, comprehensive policy for rehabilitation of the oustees and official intimation or notice regarding the same, those affected have had no choice but to stop work on the dam," said the NGO representatives.

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