Nearly 5000 Adivasi or tribal peoples live in an area that will be submerged by the Maan dam, one of thirty large dams currently being built in India’s Narmada Valley. No official plans have been made to resettle the affected villagers to other agriculturally accessible areas. Nearly one hundred and fifty Adivasi have begun an indefinite dharna (fast) in protest.
Most recently, contractors and officials of Narmada Valley Development Department, accompanied by a number of police officials, arrived to cut down trees in the impacted villages. When the Adivasi objected, the police threatened to demolish their houses.
Adivasi demand an immediate halt to tree felling. They are also asking to stop the dam work, provide them with sufficient agricultural land, and to follow the rules of resettlement and rehabilitation as defined by the World Commission of Dams. Adivasi are not planning to leave their villages until the state government meets their demands. But there isn’t much time left as the monsoon season is fast approaching.
No viable rehabilitation plan has been offered to the affected Adivasi villagers. In March 2002, the government introduced a financial package, which would enable the ‘oustees’ to purchase land for their resettlement. But it was poorly designed and rejected in toto by Adivasi.
The Maan Project was legally approved by the Central Environmental Ministry in 1984 on the condition that satisfactory resettlement arrangements would be made for the affected Adivasi-providing them with non-forest agricultural land. However, the government did not follow its own law, giving cash compensation instead of the land, to the Adivasi.
The Adivasi peoples hope to address these issues while starting a dharna or protest fast. They anticipate further police brutality and repression as the monsoon season draws near.
