M A I L B A G

Rehabilitation of Narmada oustees a must

The core argument put forward in the editorial “Don’t damn dam” (April 18) that the issue of raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam should be kept above politics is correct. When millions have to benefit from different states, such projects have to be implemented in national interest. Farmers need water for irrigation and the citizens need water to quench their thirst.

All this will never be possible without raising the height of the dam. Even while disagreeing with Medha Patkar’s opposition to the raising of the dam height, I appreciate her sincere efforts to highlight the genuine problems of the oustees who have lost their home and hearth forever. Therefore, the question of their timely and proper rehabilitation is of vital importance. The culture, language and economic interests of the oustees must be protected.

It is in the interest of the farmers of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan that the construction work on the Sardar Sarovar dam ought to continue but the oustees must also have their due in time. At present, they seem to have been left to fend for themselves.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

II

I refer to the article “There is no alternative to the big dams” by Maj-Gen (retd) Himmat Singh Gill (April 12). Big dams, no doubt, are required for development, but lives of those affected by such projects are equally important.

Moreover, criticising Medha Patkar for criticism sake is unjustifiable. The sufferers of the Bhakra (I wish to add Pong dam at Beas) dam were not Punjabis but Himachalis. Only a few of them were in the erstwhile Punjab. None from today’s Punjab had to suffer by virtue of displacement.

Most oustees of the Bhakra and Pong Dam have still been struggling for proper settlement. A whole generation has been destroyed economically, educationally, socially and psychologically. I have witnessed some Pong Dam oustees dying of hunger and malnutrition. The same people had plenty before displacement. These people suffered because there was no leader like Medha Patkar to fight for their cause.

By citing the example of the Bhakra sufferers, the writer wants the people of the Narmada valley also to be silent sufferers. It is a very undemocratic way of thinking and is in violation of human rights.

It is only the government’s failure to rehabilitate the oustees that has been hindering the progress of the Narmada project. The Supreme Court has also desired proper rehabilitation as a pre-requisite for further work on the dam. For rehabilitation, there is no dearth of land. Forest land can also be apportioned for agriculture. But the government’s apathy is the only hurdle.

SAGAR CHANDER, Shimla

III

Self-appointed champions like Medha Patkar are narrow minded. They don’t know what they are doing. It is with a purpose that the government is spending crores of rupees on building big dams. This has also been thoroughly scanned by eminent engineers, economists, planners and parliamentarians.

The Bhakra Dam is a shining example of how a dam has made Punjab and Haryana the food bowls of India as a whole. Both states had sand dunes and arid lands everywhere before the Bhakra Canal changed their fate. Dams are the only solution for feeding millions.

PAWAN MUDGIL, Cheeka

IV

This refers to the news-item on UN’s concern over Sardar Sarovar Dam (April 15). No one has the right to snatch people’s rights to life on the pretext of development. No doubt, the country is in need of hydel power generating projects and irrigation sources for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. If the government cannot rehabilitate the oustees, it has no authority to go ahead with the project.

Medha Patkar rightly asked the Narmada Control Authority to stop raising the height of the dam immediately. The Supreme Court has also issued guidelines for the rehabilitation of the oustees and provide them the required amenities. The Bhakra Management Board also rehabilitated the victims while constructing the Nangal Dam. They were given the land of their choice and compensation as per their will.

NACHHATTAR SINGH MALHAN, Odhan (Sirsa)

MSP for wheat The recent hike of minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 50 is welcome. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh needs to be thanked for providing the much-needed relief to the farmers, especially small farmers, who are finding it hard to make their both ends meet. However, I have a question to ask. Why are we procuring wheat from other countries at Rs 1, 000 per quintal, a cool Rs 300 more than what we are giving to our hard-working farmers? Why this discrimination? Aren’t we playing with the sensibilities of our poor farmers? Dr SACHIN KAUSHAL, Amritsar II Raising the MSP for wheat is an appreciable move. A farmer is entitled to bonus if the Food Corporation of India or state agencies purchase wheat. However, when 40 per cent of the season wheat has been purchased by millers/ private agencies, farmers are barred from getting the bonus. Who is the real beneficiary then? MUKESH INDER DHILLON, Ghungrana