July 31 was the deadline given by the Supreme Court to evacuate the villages from the submergence areas (in Dhar and Barwani districts), but 3,000 families are yet to move out.

A ‘Kafan Satyagraha’ (demonstrators posing as dead bodies) was also held at Karanja Square in Barwani, highlighting the fact that the government with the help of police are trying to kill the people in the affected area by closing the gates of the dam.

The protestors have come out strongly against the special package announced by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 29, saying why the CM does not give them their rights if he is so much worried about them. Why does he make new announcements without implementing the earlier ones?

They reiterated that they would not be intimidated by the aggressiveness of the administration and the presence of police force. Even if they have to take watery graves they would not leave their villages.

According to activist Amulya Nidhi, the government has misinterpreted the Supreme Court order (about the July 31 deadline) and is trying to kill people by closing the gates of the dam without completing the rehabilitation measures as listed by the Supreme Court. The affected people clearly told the district collector that they would not move to the temporary tin sheds constructed in Dhar. People have also reiterated their resolve to continue with their agitation and asked the government not to make shallow announcements but take solid measures for effective rehabilitation. Demonstrations to support the agitation are being held in Gujarat, Bihar, 22 districts of MP and 20 in Maharashtra today.

Meanwhile, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan interacted with the Sardar Sarovar Project oustees here on July 29 and announced a series of sops for them. He told them that rehabilitation was the responsibility of everyone and it should be ensured that it was done in a cordial atmosphere. He said the government was sensitive to their needs and problems and would do everything possible to solve them, but appealed to them not to get swayed by the misinformation being spread by the opposition.

He said Nisarpur town would be developed into a model township. Even those families with less than 25 per cent land getting submerged would get the benefit of rehabilitation, he said. A special package of Rs 5 lakh would be given for construction of houses, which would be besides the Rs 80,000 to be given for transport etc.

Chouhan said the government was committed to providing basic facilities at the rehabilitation sites. All the rehabilitated villages would be developed as model villages. Money would not be allowed to come in the way of the rehabilitation.

He said that the remains of Mahatma Gandhi would be shifted to a new, magnificent memorial. The anomalies in the process of determination of eligibility would be corrected and the families who have not been covered in the survey would be included by conducting a fresh survey.

He said the foundation stone for the project was laid by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, on April 5, 1961. Since then, Congress governments ruled the state most of the time but they did not do anything to get the height of the dam reduced.

The morale of Narmada satyagrahis was boosted when they received support from eminent persons across the world. Those who lent support include American linguist, social and political activist Noam Chomsky. They also signed a petition in the form of an appeal addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative for the worldwide appeal was taken by former IIM Kolkata professor and environmentalist Jayanta Bandopadhyay. Chomsky joined 100s of other people from various countries and also from different walks of life demanding justice for the project-affected people. So far, the petition has gathered signatures from 29 countries.

The petition demands a comprehensive re-survey of the project-affected people giving priority to rehabilitation first by following orders of the Supreme Court so that no family is evicted without rehabilitation.

Chomsky said in the petition that meeting the rightful demands of the people is essential to ensure the faith of people in non-violent, democratic and constitutional governance and struggle for their rights. “I, on behalf of the people of Narmada valley, now appeal to you for immediate attention and intervention to save the people threatened by submergence,” he said.

The Congress party has also sought the prime minister's intervention over the closure of Sardar Sarovar Dam gates before the completion of rehabilitation of oustees. Opposition leader Ajay Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue and direct that closure of dam gates be stopped until completion of rehabilitation process. As prime minister, Modi must ensure that the interests of the people of MP are considered at par with those of Gujarat, he added.

The Congress leader reminded the PM that his party got 26 seats from MP in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, due to which he got a two-third majority; hence it is the duty of the PM to serve the interests of MP along with the interests of Gujarat. The Supreme Court is due to consider a special leave petition (SLP) on the unsatisfactory relief and rehabilitation measures being implemented in the affected areas. (IPA Service)