All-India Solidarity to the People’s Struggle in Narmada

National Alliance of People’s Movements
National Office: A/29, Haji Habib Bldg., Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar (E), Mumbai – 400014
E-mail: napmindia[at]gmail.com
Web: www.napm-india.org

State-enabled and human-induced destructive flood in the Narmada Valley, is the responsibility of the Central and state governments!

Reservoir not being regulated and emptied on time to ‘celebrate Prime Minister Modi’s birthday’, led to the massive submergence and destruction

9th November 2023: The devastation caused by floods in more than 100 villages of the Narmada Valley has once again exposed the government’s negligence, false assessments, and failed ’development’ models! Endorsing the public statement issued by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), numerous people’s organizations and concerned citizens across India hold the Central and Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat governments responsible for this disaster! We demand an accurate assessment of the damage to the affected people, prompt surveys according to law, and immediate assistance, compensation and rehabilitation. Additionally, officials who falsely assessed the backwater level levels and did not follow the law should be held accountable. Reassessment of backwater levels, compensation and rehabilitation benefits for the submerged land, houses for the affected families must be ensured.

This year’s devastating flood has brought back to the spotlight the issues raised by the Narmada Bachao Andolan at various levels and in courts, over decades, questioning the intentions and (in)actions of the government. Some of the main reasons for this flood are:

1. The government kept the reservoir filled in September to commemorate Prime Minister Modi’s birthday (17th September, 2023), contrary to law.

2. Not opening the gates of the Narmada Dam in time.

3. Narmada Valley Development Authority arbitrarily changing the previously established backwater levels and assessing the new levels in an unscientific manner.

We believe that if the government had been even slightly sensitive to the people, this disaster could have been mitigated, to a large extent. However, the government has callously ignored the demands of the people, disregarding their rights to life and livelihood!

Emptying the Narmada reservoir as per the regulations did not happen because the BJP-led states (Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat) wanted to ‘showcase’ the full reservoir on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, revealing the appalling nature of both central and state governments.

Narmada Bachao Andolan has been raising its voice against the government’s wrong assessments for years. But by ignoring their concerns, the Madhya Pradesh government incorrectly assessed the backwater level, and the area the government claimed would not get submerged ended up being submerged! Thousands of people suffered losses, and lives were lost. By lying and basing their assessment on a flawed model, the government has put the lives of thousands of people at risk. This is another vivid example of BJP’s ’fake news’!

In the downstream areas of Gujarat, especially cities like Bharuch and Ankleshwar, thousands of houses were affected. Fisher people and farmers have suffered severe losses. If the reservoirs are not properly and timely managed and regulated by the government, the adverse effects will continue to burden ordinary people, which is completely unjust!

National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and all of us undersigned, strongly condemn this widespread destruction brought about by the government. We support all the just demands of the people of the valley and insist on their complete and fair rehabilitation.

We call upon the Central and state governments to comply with the decision of the Narmada Tribunal, all orders of the Supreme Court (including the order of 24th October, 2019), and the rehabilitation policies of all states, maintaining the water level of the reservoir dam at 122 meters until complete and just rehabilitation takes place.

We appeal to millions of people living in various river valleys across the country to strengthen the struggle to halt the construction of large dams based on flawed ’development’ models created by different governments. We urge you to stand with the thousands of people affected by submergence in Narmada this year.

Issued by National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)

Sign here in solidarity: https://forms.gle/zyduwfAbZvy2AU1HA

Statement Endorsed By:

Name / City / District and State / Organization / Profession / Organizational Endorsement

Ashish Ranjan, Bihar, Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan (JJSS)

Mahendra Yadav, Bihar, Kosi Nav Nirman Manch (KNNM)

Richa Singh, Uttar Pradesh, Sangatin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (SKMS)

Rajiv Yadav, Uttar Pradesh, Rihai Manch

Pasarul Alam, West Bengal, Transferred Area Sujatopur Organization (TASO)

Pradip Chatterjee, West Bengal, Dakshinbanga Matysajeebi Forum (DMF)

Anjali Bharadwaj, New Delhi, National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI)

Sanjeev Danda, New Delhi, Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM)

Lingaraj Azad, Odisha, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti

Lingaraj Pradhan, Odisha; Paschim Odisha Krushak Samanwayan Samiti (POKSS)

NAPM and Mose Khore Bachao Andolan, Wang Marathwadi Dharangrast kruti Samiti, Tata Dharangrast Sangharsh Samiti

Medha Patkar, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)

Arundhati Dhuru, Uttar Pradesh, NAPM

Sanjay MG, Maharashtra, NAPM

Kiran Vissa Vissa, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV)

Kailash Meena, Rajasthan, Neem-ka-thana Avaidh Khanan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti

Sr Dorothy, Bihar, Aashray Abhiyan

Jagdish Khairalia, Thane, Maharashtra, Shramik Janta Sangh

Prafulla Samantara, Odisha, Lok Shakti Abhiyan,

Soumya Dutta, New Delhi, MAUSAM

Meera Sanghamitra, Telangana, NAPM

Anand Mazgaonkar, Gujarat, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

Aruna Roy, Rajasthan, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan

Gabriele Dietrich, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Penn Urimay Iyakkam

Geetha Ramakrishnan, Tamil Nadu, Unorganised Sector Workers Federation

Retd. Major Gen. S. G. Vombatkere, Karnataka, NAPM

Dr. Sunilam, Madhya Pradesh, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS)

Rajkumar Sinha, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Bargi Bandh Visthapit Evam Prabhavit Sangh

Dr.Sugan Baranth, Malegaon, Nasik, Maharashtra, Gram Swarajya Samitee. Maharashtra

Prasad Shankar bagve, Lonavala, dist -karla , maharastra, NAPM, maharastra

Sirat Satpute, Mumbai Maharashtra, NAPM Maharashtra

Ajinkya Ashok Gaikwad, Pune, NAPM

Shilpa Ballal, Pune, Maharashtra.

Amitraj Deshmukh, Pune, be-gumpura studios (community lab-library)

Anuradha Shah, Dombivli , Thane , Maharashtra, Retired professor

Kripal Singh Mandloi, Madhya Pradesh, Khudai khidmatgar

शरद कांबळे, धुळे महाराष्ट्र, नर्मदा शव निर्माण आंदोलन समर्थक

Vijay, Delhi, Youth For Climate India

Anjali chipalkatti, Pune, Education

उपेन्द्र शंकर, जयपुर, राजस्थान, जलधारा अभियान

Krishna madhavàn Nair, Mumbai maharashtra, Ghar bachao ghar banao

Sanjay Shyamrao Rendalkar, Ichalkaranji, district kolhapur, state Maharashtra, NAPM

Muralidhar Parulekar, Kolhapur, Software Engineer

Pravin wani, Malegaon, Business man

दीपक परदेशी, धुळे जिल्हा धुळे, महाराष्ट्र, राष्ट्र सेवा दल, धुळे शहर

Mahadev pandurang patil, Mumbai, maharashtra, Rashtra seva dal

Digraje Shrenik Bhupal, Kurundwad, Rashtra Seva Dal

Anup Rangole, Nipani. Belagavi, Karnataka, NAPM Maharashtra

Ravindranath, Assam, River Basin Friends

Vaibhavi Sanjay Adhav, Ichalkaranaji, kolhapur, Maharashtra

राष्ट्र सेवा दल, NAPM, समाजबंध, विवेकवाहिनी

Ambika Yadav, Seraikela kharshawan jharkhand, Vistapit mukti Vahini Chandil

Amit Balkrushna Kowe, Kolhapur, NAPM

Dayanand Vartak, Vasai/Palghar/Maharashtra, Rashtra Seva Dal

सुनीलचंद्र महादेव निंबकर, सफाळे,तालुका व जिल्हा:पालघर , महाराष्ट्र, राष्ट्र सेवा दल

विनय र. र., पुणे, महाराष्ट्र, पुणे

सदाशिव मगदूम, सांगली, राष्ट्र सेवा दल

Sharad Joshi, Thane/Thane/Maharashtra, Narmada Bachao Andolan

Vijay R Diwan, Nallagandla, Serilingampalli, Hyderabad T.S., Forum for Justice and Peace.

MADHURI, MADHYA PRADESH, JAGRIT ADIVASI DALIT SANGATHAN

Ashwini, Bhopal, Researcher

Shalini Gera, Bilaspur, Lawyer

SUNIL, Mumbai, Professional

Sukanya, Kolkata, West Bengal, Freelance journalist

ARUN KHOTE, Lucknow, JUSTICE NEWS / PMARC

Ercan Ayboga, Diyarbakir /Kurdistan, Mesopotamia Ecology Movement

E A S Sarma, Visakhapatnam, Forum for Better Visakha

FIROZ AHMAD, DELHI, SCHOOLTEACHER

Shiva Shankar, Chennai, TN, Academic

Lasar, Trichy, Tamilnadu,Retd

Uma Shankari, Hyderabad, Farmer

KKChatradhara (Bhai), Assam, Environmental worker

Prabhat Kumar, Delhi, Social & Political Activist

Debajit Dutta, Kolkata/West Bengal, NAPM

Asmita Aasaavari, Mansfield, CT, USA, University of Connecticut

Mona Mishra, Delhi

Kalyani Menon Sen, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Independent researcher

Shobha, Karnataka, Independent consultant

Akhileshwari Ramagoud, Secunderabad, Telangana, Journalist and Academic

Madhu Bhaduri, Delhi, Retired Ambassador of India

Amit Bhaduri, Dharwad, Karnataka, Former professor JNU, New Delhi

Aloysius Irudayam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Social Advocacy Researcher at Legal Action, Advocacy & Services (LAAS), Madurai

Mini Mathew Mumbai/ Maharashtra, Lawyer

Shakun Doundiyakhed, Bangalore, Social Action for justice

Aruna, Pune, Individual

Nishkala, Karnataka, PUCL - Karnataka

Sukla Sen, Mumbai, Peace Activist

ABDUL MABOOD, NEW DELHI, SNEHI

Freny Manecksha, Thane Maharashtra, Independent journalist

Malaika MC, Surendranagar, Gujarat, Researcher

Abha Bhaiya, Dharamshala, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, women’s rights worker

Chhaya Datar, Mumbai, Retd Professor at TISS

Dr. Neeti Bhai, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Lok Samiti

Karen Gabriel, Delhi, Professor, St Stephen’s College

Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara, Gujarat, Environment Activist

BASAVI KIRO, RANCHI, LAND RESOURCES AND TERRITORY

Arun Kumar, Gurgaon, Haryana, Retd. Professor

Nisha Biswas, Kolkata, Activism

Suhas Kolhekar, Pune, Maharashtra, NAPM

Ramesh Awasthi, Pune, Maharashtra, PUCL

Ashish Kothari, Pune, Kalpavriksh

Vijay Sehrawat, Delhi, Youth For Climate India

Henri Tiphagne, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, People’s Watch

Sunil M. Caleb, Kolkata, Professor

SHARAD BEHAR, BHOPAL, M.P., RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT

Amitadyuti Kumar, Chinsura / Dist Hooghly West Bengal, APDR

Chandranath Dani, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR)

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh, Independent Writer and Journalist

Dwiji Guru, Bengaluru, Karnataka, Activist and advocate for sustainable food systems

Anmol Ohri, Jammu, J&K, Climate Front India

Rithambra Khajuria, Jammu, J&k, Climate Front Jammu

Pramod Bagdi, Indore Madhya Pradesh, Social worker

Ruchith Asha Kamal, Hyderabad, Climate Front Hyderabad

Sumit Mahar, Himachal Pradesh, Youth For Himalaya

Sumit Mahar, Himachal Pradesh, Himdhara Collective

Gurpreet Kaur, Delhi, Independent researcher

Vihaan Vee, Bangalore, NA

Dhruba Mukhopadhyay, Kolkata, Retired Professor

Pradip Datta, Anti-Nuke Activist, Environmentalist, Kolkata, Writer

PK SARKAR, Bankura, Health Actitvist

Putul Sathe, Thane, Maharashtra, Teaching

Tultul Biswas, Bhopal, MP, Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch

Jacob Nellithanam, Dallirajhara, Chhattisgarh, Richharia Campaign

Prabha, New Delhi, NAPM

Manshi Asher, Researcher-activist

Arathi, Mangalore, Vana Charitable Trust

Tara Kapur, Mumbai, Retired from service

Prabha Shanker Sharma, Rajasthan

नागरिक अधिकार मंच भींडर, जिला उदयपुर

Shahid, Ghaziabad, Individual

Aman Gujjar, Haridwar Uttrakhand

Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangthan (work of All India)

Brinda Adige, Bengaluru, Activist, Ananya Mahila Okkutta

Vandana Mahajan, New Delhi, Independent gender equality practitioner

Saba Dave, Delhi, IDR

Moncy, Trivandrum, Environment worker

Ranjan Kumar, Vaishali, Bihar, Jan Vikas Shakti Sangathan(JVSS),Bihar

Lucas, Goa, Engineer

Ishan Agrawal, Haldwani/nainital/uttarakhand, Social work

Nandini Rao, Delhi, Social activist

V. Sasi Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala State, PAMA Trust, Scientist

R. Manohar, Bangalore, Karnataka, Human Rights Defenders Alert

Usha Lachungpa, Lachung, North Sikkim, Sikkim, Retired from Govt service

Dr Ashok Kumar Somal, Kangra Himachal Pradesh, Swaraj India HP

Kumari Leena, Ranchi, Social worker

Ashish, Madurai Tamil Nadu, Advocate

Sanjay Shyamrao Rendalkar, Ichalkaranji, kolhapur Maharashtra, NAPM Maharashtra

Y Krishna Jyothi, Hyderabad, Telangana, Journalist

Chaturanan Ojha, UP, Saman shiksh andolan ,uttar pradesh

Chinta Tilwari, Bhopal mp, Savitri bai fule fatimashekh gharelu mahila kaamgaar sangthan

Poonam kanojiya, Mumbai

Snehal Shah, Delhi, Independent

Pradyumna Behera, Odisha, Researcher

Sushma Mishra, Mumbai / Maharashtra, Travel and Tourism

Nirali Vaidya, Mumbai, Citizen

Aadesh bhai Pareshan

Kaima Gangapur city Rajasthan

Adarsh Manav Vikas Yuva gramin Seva Sansth worker

Vidya Dinker, Mangalore/ Karnataka, INSAF

John Dayal, Delhi, Writer

Adv Dr Shalu Nigam, Delhi NCR, Independent Researcher

Indira Hirway, Ahmedabad, Centre for Development Alternatives

Amod Shah, Nainital, Uttarakhand, Student

India Greens Party, Pan-India, Environment, ecology, sustainability, social justice

Omkar Shinde, Pune, Maharashtra, Pune Queer Collective

Jagdish Singh Tomar, Semalda /manawar /Dhar /Madhya Pradesh, Narmada Bachao Andolan

XAVIER DIAS, RANCHI JHARKHAND, FORMER EDITOR

Vimochana, Bangalore, Organization

Ramani Atkuri, Bangalore, Karnataka, Public Health physician

Deepti Zaware, Pune, Maharashtra, Chartered Accountant

Dr. Friederike Habermann, Einbeck, Germany, author & independent scholar

Vivek Sundara, Mumbai Maharashtra, Rights activist

Rekha Awasthi, Delhi, Retired professor, DU & janwadi lekhak sangh

Rama Melkote, Hyderabad Telangana, Prof retd Osmania university

Sreedhar, Delhi, ENVIRONICS TRUST

Guman Singh, Banjar, kullu, himachal pradesh, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan

Yashna Dhuria, Delhi, Youth for Climate India

Disha A Ravi, Bangalore, Karnataka, Fridays For Future India

Om Prakash Singh, Cuttack, Odisha, Independent

Corinne Kumar, Bangalore, Karnataka, Vimochana

Nidhi, New Delhi, Shehri Mahila Kamgar Union

Joe Athialy, Pune, Centre for Financial Accountability

Lalita Deonalli, Mumbai, Individual

Sarthak, Kolkata, Concerned citizen

Saroj kumar paswan, फरीदाबाद, हरियाणा, Old team sathi .khori gaon एफ,डी

Dr Taru Veera Venkata MaruthiSuman, Faridabad/ Faridabad and Haryana, GHG Lead Auditor

John Jayaharan, Chennai Tamilnadu, Professor

Ashok kumar, Delhi, DASAM

Santosh Lalwani, Pune, Maharashtra, Pune River Revival - Ecological River Rejuvenation

Prem Kumar Vijayan, Delhi, Associate Professor

Radhika Desai, Porvorim, North Goa, Goa, Independent Researcher, RT Mhasvai, Pune/Pune Maharashtra, Jeevitnadi & Pune River Revival

Aurobindo, NCR Delhi, Grassroot Work

There Is No Earth B, New Delhi, There Is No Earth B

Ram K, Uttarakhand, Independent Educator

Amitraj Deshmukh, Pune, be-gumpura studios