From patrickirn@igc.apc.org Sat Jul 1 11:11:42 1995 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu by sea.cs.wisc.edu; Sat, 1 Jul 95 11:11:38 -0500; AA01651 Received: from cdp.igc.apc.org by lucy.cs.wisc.edu; Sat, 1 Jul 95 11:11:37 -0500 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by cdp.igc.apc.org (8.7.Beta.7/Revision: 1.203 ) with SMTP id QAA27472; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:09:51 -0700 Received: (from patrickirn) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.12 ) id QAA25399; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:08:46 -0700 Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:08:46 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199506302308.QAA25399@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: ae140@leo.nmc.edu, alau@sirius.com, AniD@aol.com, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@luther.che.wisc.edu, johna@uclink2.berkeley.edu, jvaidya@netcom.com, mdharmaw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, narmada@lucy.cs.wisc.edu, srrajan@violet.berkeley.edu Subject: ssp update /* Written 10:27 AM Jun 30, 1995 by irndc in igc:env.dams */ /* ---------- "ssp update" ---------- */ To: Narmada Action Committee, International NGOs From: Lori Udall, IRN-DC Fax:202-879-3186 Re: Recent News from the Narmada Valley and Washington Date: 30 June 1995 Monsoon Satyagraha The Satyagraha ("insistence on truth") for the 1995 monsoon season started on June 11 in the lowest huts at Domkhedi, Maharashtra and Jalshind, Madhya Pradesh. Villagers have vowed again to face the rising waters. There are at least 100 police stationed in each of those villages. The Government of Maharashtra has served notices on Medha Patkar and 9 other activists under section 144(2) which bans their presence in the Maharashtra villages for two months. The Narmada Bachao Andolan has challenged the order in Dhule district court. Police are stationed in villages throughout the submergence zone in both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. This monsoon about 1000 families will be affected by rising waters in Maharashtra; about 20-25 villages will be partially submerged. In M.P. about 20 villages will be affected or partially submerged. None of the oustees in these villages have been moved out. Even families wanting to move have not left because the land shown to them by the government was not satisfactory. Malu Villagers Move Back to Godher On June 8th, about 23 families in the resettlement village of Malu decided to move back to their original village of Godher. As they were preparing to leave Malu, police intervened and tried to stop them from moving by confiscating their luggage. The families left anyway without luggage and are now staying near Godher. Oustees from Resettlement Sites Protest in Baroda On June 26th, a Dharna (sit-in) in protest of resettlement site conditions was held in Baroda by about 400 people from 35 resettlement sites in Gujarat. Some of the oustees had been resettled as far back as 5-7 years ago and are not among those that opposed the dam. Some of the resettlement sites represented in the protest were Malu, Parveta, Simallya, Parajaw, Pansoli, and Ambawadi. The resettlers complained of poor living conditions, lack of drinking water, lack of fuelwood or fodder, problems with host villagers, including hostility between oustees and host villagers, lack of arable or irrigated land, less than 5 acres. Approximately 30-40% of oustees are still living in tin sheds. There are also reports of violent incidents against government officials due to a high level of frustration. The protesters have send a letter to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Kesubhai Patel, detailing their complaints and threatening to move back to their old villages if the Minister does not initiate action to improve resettlement conditions. Many of their old villages are already partially submerged, but the oustees would settle near the river and cultivate their old lands. NBA Letter to Executive Directors regarding Operations Evaluation Department Audit As you know, the Project Completion Report and OED Memorandum to Executive Directors have been out for some time (copies are available from IRN-CA and IRN-DC). The NBA responded initially in a letter dated May 26, in which it called on the Bank 1) own up to its legal and moral responsibility, 2) to ensure that no sector lending was going for the completion of Sardar Sarovar 3) to ensure that the Bank will not fund Sardar Sarovar in the future 4) and ensure that existing legal agreements between the Government of India and the Bank are being enforced. On June 2nd, the NBA has sent another letter to World Bank Executive Directors requesting the EDs to direct the OED to conduct an audit of a number of critical issues in the near future, rather then waiting to conduct an economic audit in 1996. Issues surrounding project viability which should be investigated include hydrology, the impact of reduction of benefits of SSP without Narmada Sagar, sustainability of project benefits, economic and financial viability of SSP, and reduction of dam height. The NBA emphasized that studies on these issues now is critical as the Supreme Court is making decisions on the project now which will affect further construction, dam height and hydrology. Copies of both letters are available from IRN-DC and IRN-CA. The May 26th letter and OED memo are also posted on email conferences: Env.dams and Dev.worldbank. Issue raised in the letters were presented by myself in a meeting between Washington based NGOs and Director of the Operations Evaluation Department, Robert Picciotto. Although Picciotto responded favorably to a number of the issues raised there was no firm commitment in the meeting of the OED to conduct the audit any sooner than next year. It would be helpful for individuals to support the NBA letter in correspondence with your own Executive Director. IRN will also coordinate an international sign-on letter to the EDs and OED on this issue. The letter will be sent to you in a few days. Supreme Court Date--July 14, 1995 The Indian Supreme Court will convene on July 14th to consider the final report submitted by the Indian Independent Review, which covers issues of hydrology, dam height and environment and resettlement. To date, the Report is sealed and has not been publicly released. From patrickirn@igc.apc.org Wed Jul 19 15:04:09 1995 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu by sea.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 19 Jul 95 15:03:55 -0500; AA02335 Received: from cdp.igc.apc.org by lucy.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 19 Jul 95 15:03:36 -0500 Received: from igc3.igc.apc.org (igc3.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.33]) by cdp.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.203 ) with SMTP id MAA05079; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:56:51 -0700 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.6 ) with SMTP id MAA00346; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:54:50 -0700 Received: (from patrickirn) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.14 ) id MAA04596; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:48:07 -0700 Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:48:07 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199507191948.MAA04596@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: ae140@leo.nmc.edu, alau@sirius.com, AniD@aol.com, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@luther.che.wisc.edu, johna@uclink2.berkeley.edu, jvaidya@netcom.com, mdharmaw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, narmada@lucy.cs.wisc.edu, srrajan@violet.berkeley.edu Subject: NBA letter to WB EDs June 2 /* Written 12:34 PM Jul 19, 1995 by patrickirn in igc:env.dams */ /* ---------- "NBA letter to WB EDs June 2" ---------- */ From: Patrick McCully Narmada Bachao Andolan Baroda Gujarat June 2, 1995 The Executive Directors, World Bank Washington DC. Subject: Project Completion Report of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project and the Operations Evaluation Department Memo on the Same, and Our Letter Dated 5 May 1995 Dear Executive Directors, You must have received our earlier letter on the Project Completion Report of the Sardar Sarovar Project dated 5 May 1995. We hope that you have been able to give some thought to the points raised therein. The seriousness of the issue has meanwhile necessitated this second letter within such a short time of the first one. We feel that the most important issue raised by the PCR is the issue of the responsibility of the Bank towards the impacts and consequences of the projects funded by it. In India at least, this issue is becoming very important -- not only in the case of the SSP but also in case of many Bank funded projects. This is especially so where the Bank has either stopped funding, or considers the project "complete" -- but in reality, the project's (essentially negative) impacts are still continuing, including displacement. Narmada, Singrauli, Subernerekha are just few such examples. We would like to emphasise here that the most striking conclusion from the PCR is that the Bank has clearly been a party to the project, and its omissions and commissions have been directly responsible for many things that have seriously gone wrong with it. Unfortunately, it is not the Bank that has suffered as a result, but the affected people -- PAPs -- who have had to bear the brunt of all this. Given this rising concern about the Bank's responsibility, and the unambiguous findings of the PCR, we feel the Sardar Sarovar Project has become a test case of how the Bank will handle the issue. In our last letter, we had indicated certain minimum things that the Bank must do while addressing the issues raised by the PCR. To that, we would like to add a few more. The OED, we have read, is planning to do a full scale evaluation some years from now of the project benefits. This study, done years from now -- will only be of academic interest -- one more in the long list of post facto studies -- like the PCR. And if this study also shows grave errors -- of what use will it be? In fact, if at all studies are to be carried out -- they should be done today, and now -- when they still can be of some relevance in preventing possible destruction. This seems all the more important in light of the fact that OED has raised serious doubts regarding the project benefits and viability itself. We can suggest some of the crucial issues that can be, and need to be examined urgently. These are: 1. The Hydrology of the River : There are serious doubts about the assumed yield of the river -- the parameter that is the very foundation of the design of the project. It is now believed that the yield is only 23 MAF as against the NWDT's 28 MAF. 2. The Impact of the Delay/Non-Construction of the Upstream Narmada Sagar Project : As is known, the benefits of SSP -- 25% in power and 30% in irrigation -- depend on the NSP. Technically, the NSP is a part of SSP -- but it is being designed, planned, and implemented totally separately. The NSP is now clearly delayed by many years, and may not even come up. It is crucial to understand the impact of this. 3. Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment : This does not exist even today, as the PCR points out, in spite of many studies regarding different environmental aspects that the Government now claim it has done. This will have a crucial bearing on the project benefits and sustainability. 4. Specific Environmental Issues : In many issues, even preliminary studies have not been done; in many, far more need to be done. Some such areas are -- downstream and esturine impacts, impacts in the command area of salinisation and waterlogging, impacts on flora- fauna in catchment and command, biodiversity issues, especially the expected threat to the endangered mammal Wild Ass due to project canals, possible losses of invaluable archaeological heritage as preliminary excavations show, seismic impacts. 5. Sustainability/ Feasibility of Project Benefits : As the OED memo itself says, neither are the benefits projected at appraisal likely to be fully realised nor are the realised benefits going to be sustainable. This needs to be examined further in-depth. This is crucial also from the point of view of the larger issue of big dams, whether such unsustainability of benefits is fundamental to such dams and the implications of the same for Bank funding of such projects. 6. Alternative Paradigms of Water Management, and Planning of the Basin as a Unit : All over the world, new, socially and environmental benign paradigms of water management are evolving. There is also an emerging consensus that the river valley planning must be done holistically -- taking the valley as a unit -- something which is totally missing in the case of the Narmada. The Bank has also shown itself to be blind to these emerging paradigms. The SSP case is a unique opportunity for the Bank to explore these alternatives, in the specific context of SSP and Narmada. Needless to say, these will be invaluable for the larger issue of "big dam" controversy also. 7. Economic and Financial Viability of the Project : Already, serious doubts exist about both, echoed also by the PCR and OED. There is a need to re-examine these, especially in the light of the issues that would come up in the points 1-6 above. Note that we have not mentioned the most crucial issue of displacement, as there is now hardly any doubt whatsoever that the resettlement and rehabilitation of the SSP oustees is impossible. It will also be crucial as to how these issues will be examined. There has to be independence from the Bank Management, especially from those involved in the project, and if possible an agency like the Bank's Operations Evaluation Department should look at these. Further, the crucial issues of openness and consultation will be of paramount importance. Most important will be the need to consult meaningfully the affected people, their representative organizations, as well as other national and international NGOs who have been following the project for some years. Lastly of course, it would not help much if the progress on the project makes such studies post facto by default. Rather than look to fund the project again as the PCR suggests, it would be more honest and meaningful for the Bank to suggest that the project be put on hold till these studies are completed and can be meaningfully considered. This course of action will be a far better contribution to the people. Possibly, this will also help the Bank make up -- at least partly -- for its role in the destruction already caused and destruction that is to follow. We hope that you will consider the points that we have raised here, as well as in the earlier letter, and respond to them in a meaningful way. The people of the Narmada Valley, the hundreds of NGOs in India and over the world, as well as thousands of concerned citizens are watching. At stake, as we have said earlier, is not only the fate of the people of the Valley but also the credibility and accountability of the Bank. Thanking you, Yours Sincerely, Shripad Dharmadhikary For, Narmada Bachao Andolan NBA c/o B 13 Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda, INDIA 390 007 Ph. : +91-265-340 168 Fax : c/o +91-265-330 430 or 338 541 Attn. NBA 340 168 From patrickirn@igc.apc.org Wed Jul 19 15:04:25 1995 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu by sea.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 19 Jul 95 15:03:48 -0500; AA02333 Received: from cdp.igc.apc.org by lucy.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 19 Jul 95 15:03:21 -0500 Received: from igc3.igc.apc.org (igc3.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.33]) by cdp.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.203 ) with SMTP id MAA05096; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:56:53 -0700 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.6 ) with SMTP id MAA00349; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:54:51 -0700 Received: (from patrickirn) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.14 ) id MAA04538; Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:47:47 -0700 Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:47:47 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199507191947.MAA04538@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: ae140@leo.nmc.edu, alau@sirius.com, AniD@aol.com, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@luther.che.wisc.edu, johna@uclink2.berkeley.edu, jvaidya@netcom.com, mdharmaw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, narmada@lucy.cs.wisc.edu, srrajan@violet.berkeley.edu Subject: NBA Update 1 July /* Written 12:32 PM Jul 19, 1995 by patrickirn in igc:env.dams */ /* ---------- "NBA Update 1 July" ---------- */ From: Patrick McCully Narmada Bachao Andolan: International Update 1 July, 1995 In This Issue Dear Friends . . . Monsoon Satyagraha Begins in the Valley The Situation of "Ideal" R&R in Gujarat Gujarat Oustees Abandon Resettlement Site "Resettled" Oustees Stage Massive Demonstration Gujarat HR Group Exposes Truth About R&R Bank Project Completion Report on Canals Further Flays SSP Supreme Court to Look at SSP on July 14, 1995 Meeting With Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Larger Issues Documents: PCR, PCR Canal, Our Letters For those of you who still haven't yet noted our changed (but now not so new) address, phone and fax numbers, kindly note these given at the end of this update. Dear Friends . . . We have been trying since quite some time to systematise our mailing so that the international groups interested in the SSP issue are able to regularly get the up-to-date information on the struggle and other related issues, and that too in some detail. This is apart from the updates issued by Lori for the NAC of course. We do hope that you have all been receiving these updates from time to time. As some of the people getting these updates are doing so only recently, we would like to give some background. These updates are now going to selected international developmental and environmental NGOs and organisations of members of Indian community. Since we are able to mail these only to a very small number of people due to the high expense, we have been sending these to groups who have been acting as "centers"- i.e. those who are able to further distribute this update and other material to interested people in their own countries. We would like to reiterate this and request you to disseminate the information in the updates, press clippings etc. to as wide a circle as possible, including other interested NGOs, NRIs (non-resident Indians), and other members of the Indian Community, journalists, appropriate officials. It would be useful if you could send us information of how and to whom you are disseminating this information. The continued support of the International community is very important for the people's struggle in the Narmada Valley. As recent Project Completion Report from the World Bank and other reports suggest, the Bank is still actively monitoring and influencing the project. It also maintains an active interest in the possibility of resuming funding. Thus, it is important that we keep up the pressure on the Bank and all those who make decisions on its behalf. The Government of India is also desperately seeking the resumption of the assistance from Japan. British consultants, initially hired on a grant from the British Government are continuing with the project. The Government of Gujarat is also planning to raise money from the international market, especially the NRIs. Under the circumstances, international support and solidarity are of utmost importance. This obviously, is over and above the fact that we believe that we are all a part of a larger struggle, and hence need to extend solidarity to each other. We will appreciate it if you convey your reactions to this update, let us have a list of people/groups whom you are disseminating this to, and suggestions regarding what kind of information you would like us to focus on. Any specific queries, questions are also welcome. MONSOON SATYAGRAHA BEGINS On 11 June 1995, hundreds of tribals assembled on the Banks of Narmada near the villages of Jalsindhi (M.P.) and Domkhedi (Maharashtra), set afloat little lamps into the river, marking the beginning of the Monsoon Satyagraha of the Andolan. As the Government had again pushed ahead with the construction of the dam in an illegal way, raising the height of the dam from 69 m to 80.3 m, in spite of the total shambles that the Resettlement program is in, the people have had no other option but to reiterate their pledge that they will face this illegal submergence, and will drown but not move. Though the construction was stopped at 80.3 m. instead of the 110 m. that was earlier proposed because of the strong protest and prolonged hunger strike in December 1994, the extra 11 m. of construction that had been carried out meant that at least a thousand families faced submergence, losing their lands and fields without being resettled. Given this fact, and the fact that even those who have been "Resettled" are returning back, the fact that the crucial Further Report of the Review committee constituted by the Government of India still lies under wraps, and the fact that even the World Bank has now practically admitted that the project's very viability and sustainability is in question, the people have felt that the only stand they can take is to continue opposing the project with their full strength and resolve. This resolve, of fighting injustice to the end, was expressed in the slogans of doobenge per hatenge nahin ( We will drown, but not move) as the satyagraha began. Within a few days of this, reinforcements were brought in the police camps existing since over tow years in all the villages in Maharashtra. Camps have been also set up in M.P. The Maharashtra police issued a notice under Section 144(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code to Medha Patkar and many villagers. This notice charges them with disruption of Government work, assault, attempted murder!! and saying that their very existence in the villages is a threat to the peace, declares that presence in the villages illegal and bans it. This order includes some residents of the villages also. The activists have decided to defy these orders as these are based on false charges and cases framed against them, and continue to be in the valley. The police have so far not arrested them, but can do so any time they deem fit. The satyagraha, however goes on with renewed strength and determination. Already, many people from all over the country have visited the satyagraha and expressed their solidarity. The satyagraha will go on till the end of the monsoon. GUJARAT OUSTEES ABANDON RESETTLEMENT LAND On the morning of 8 June 1995, 23 families in the desolate resettlement site of Malu (Taluka Sankheda, dist. Baroda) loaded all their personal possessions in 6 trucks, and set out to return to their original village of Gadher on the banks of the Narmada. Totally frustrated not only by the miserable conditions at the R&R site but more so by the total lack of sensitivity and response by the Government which had virtually abandoned them, these oustees decided to take the ultimate step of returning back to their village, knowing full well that it would be submerged in another year or so. These families had been shifted to Malu about four years ago, with the promises of "ideal" resettlement. These were families who had never opposed the dam. However, the myth of "ideal resettlement" that is propagated by the Government outside quickly shattered for them. Land of bad quality, of lesser area than promised, being shown one land and given another, many not being given land at all, no water even for drinking purposes, no grazing land, no firewood . . . Malu turned out to be no different from any other R&R site. The people complained to the Government. Four long years passed, and ultimately, the people realised that the Government was not going to do anything for them. They decided to go back to their villages. On 8 June 1995, as the people readied to go back to Gadher, the Andolan had arranged to have about 8 observers from Baroda and Ahemdabad, including representatives of NGOs and two lawyers. Just as the trucks were about to start, the police appeared on the scene and stopped them. The police, under the charge of the PSI Mr. Patel told the people that they could not leave. When the people asked why they were being stopped, the police could not give any reason. They just kept on saying, "You are doing something wrong." When the lawyer intervened the police refused to listen to her, and later, when she issued them a legal notice for illegal detention of the tribals, they refused to take it. After an angry two-hour altercation, the 23 families decided to abandon the possessions too, and decided to go away to Kevadia Colony, to the office of the resettlement officer. At Kevadia, they entered the office and said that they wanted to return the title deeds to the useless pieces of land that they had been allotted. No official appeared, and finally, at about 8 p.m. they were unceremoniously thrown out by the police. Without any possession except their clothes that they had on, but with enormous determination born out of frustration and anger, the people decided to anyway proceed to their original village of Gadher. Today, they have built makeshift houses there, and continue to live with borrowed utensils and other things, even as their possessions still remain in the custody of the police. A two-member fact finding team, consisting of a leading labour lawyer and an NGO representative visited Malu immediately on 9 June 1995. In their report, the team stated: "We have no hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that the District administration of Baroda had acted highhandedly and unreasonably in illegally detaining these trucks which had caused severe loss and hardship to these people . . . We find it is a gross violation of legal and constitutional rights and human rights by the state . . ." "RESETTLED" OUSTEES STAGE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION The story of the people of Malu is not any exception. Hundreds of families continue to suffer at the resettlement sites, many now mired in debt, and finding it immensely difficult to even survive. All the while, the Government continues with its propaganda of "ideal resettlement". This was once again challenged on 26 June 1995, when over 400 oustees from about 35 R&R sites staged a massive demonstration dharna in Baroda under the banner of Gujarat Visthapit Sangharsh Samiti (The Organisation Struggling for Gujarat Oustees). The demonstration was organised by the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The oustees were mainly from Gujarat, though there were a few from Maharashtra and M.P., as also the representatives of the Canal affected, colony affected, forestation affected people. These were essentially people who had not opposed the dam, but had accepted resettlement believing the promises of the "ideal" resettlement made by the Government and supported by some NGOs. However, now totally frustrated by their experience both at the site, which has seen living standards plummet and survival itself become more and more difficult, as well as by the total lack of any response from the Government, they decided to give the Government a final warning. In a memorandum sent to the new Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Keshubhai Patel, from the dharna, the oustees said: "We are the oustee representatives of several thousand others . . . we have been told many times by the officials that they will solve our problem . . . but nothing has happened . . . we had staged a demonstration in November 1994, this time officials promised to resolve our problems in a month . . . but again, nothing has happened . . . living is becoming impossible for us . . . we are willing to give your new Government (with old officials) one chance . . . if the process to resolve our problems is not started in four days . . . we will, like the people of Malu, abandon our sites and return to our original villages." GUJARAT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP EXPOSES THE TRUTH OF R&R A two member team from the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Baroda (the Baroda unit of the nation wide human rights organisation) visited during March 1995, rehabilitation sites of the persons displaced due to the Sardar Sarovar Project. The team visited a total of 18 resettlement sites, all of them in Gujarat. The summary report of the team, released by PUCL on 5 June 1995 presents the finding of the team. It says: " . . . there are serious problems with the implementation of the R&R compensation package in Gujarat. The non-implementation is also directly in violation of the principles of R&R policy." "Nowhere in the sites visited have the oustees improved or at least regained the standard of living that they were enjoying prior to displacement." "There has been serious contravention of the principle of relocation as village units, sections, or families in accordance with the oustees' preference." "Full integration of the community to which the oustees are resettled has not occurred. Full integration seems to be an impossible idea, considering the difference in their social origin, language, customs . . . " . . . Community services and facilities are practically non-existent in the sites visited." "Nowhere has there been adequate participation by the oustees in the plan for resettlement and rehabilitation." "Supreme Court directives (to shift the oustees six months in advance on submergence and complete rehabilitation in respect of homesteads and agricultural property) have been routinely violated." In conclusion, the report states: "In such a situation, the PUCL finds human rights are violated at every stage of the process: in shifting, in the so-called resettlement and in the awarding of compensation. The Narmada resettlement process is a classic case of pauperization and immiseration of entire self-reliant communities in the name of development." WORLD BANK PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT (PCR) ON CANALS After the Project Completion Report on the Dam and Power Project, the World Bank has come out with the PCR on Canals' Credit. A memo by the Bank's Operations Evaluation Department accompanies the PCR. If anything, this report is more telling than the earlier one. We give below extracts. Occasionally, our comments in [brackets]. FROM THE OED MEMO: "It is clear that the Bank did not follow its own environmental guidelines, which came into existence before the final appraisal." "The PCR concludes that, in practice, it is likely that the available water for irrigation will not permit the complete coverage of the command area as planned . . . " (Pg 4). "In sum, achievements have been mixed, and many uncertainties regarding the final outcome remain. Fiscal constraints could be binding." (Pg 4) "Project sustainability is rated as uncertain. Implementation of the findings of the pending Environmental Impact Assessment will be crucial to sustainable development . . . the extent of irrigation coverage and management of mitigatory measures." (Pg 5) [The EIA is still not done, and as we have been pointing out, EIA is crucial even to realise project benefits, and hence was needed to be done before the project started.] "Bank appraisal and supervision has been unsatisfactory." (Pg 5) >From the PCR: "In retrospect, the Bank may have been over-ambitious in attempting to finance a project of such scope and complexity. In its eagerness to proceed quickly with this large project, the Bank considered the project . . . without making a sufficiently critical review of shorter term viable sub-projects." (Pg. vii) "Throughout the project cycle, the Borrower was over-optimistic about its capacity to implement the project within the proposed time frame, . . . At present, Borrower might have revised its optimism . . . and may realise that the completion of this large project will take many more years." (Pg. viii) "The (legal) covenants covered the usual conditionalities including . . .. timely implementation even after credit closure . . . " (Pg 7) " . . . consultants have over-estimated the water availability and under-estimated crop water requirements, and in the end Gujarat is likely to require more water than its allocation . . . (Pg 12) [Or, to put it in other words, with the current allocation to Gujarat, it will not be able to meet all the irrigation and water supply targets that it claims to, implying a serious impact on the cost/benefit as well as the viability and desirability of the project.] "The Bank's OMS 2.33 of February 1980 specified that the Bank's policy on R&R applied to Canals and that the number of affected people, the adequacy of land acquisition and compensation procedures and the preparation of the resettlement plan . . . were all part of project cycle." (Pg 27) [Of course, in the case of SSP, this OMS was blatantly violated.] " . . . the impact of canal construction has been estimated with greater accuracy [now, only in the last two three years] . . . about 170,000 persons [should be families, actually] will be affected and the area to be acquired will be about 73,919 ha [about twice the submergence area] . . . This figure is likely to further increase when the land required for drains, roads, quarries . . . is taken into consideration. It is estimated that about 24,000 canal affected families will be losing more than 25% of their land." (Pg 27) "The command area, if analysed by itself, shows a somewhat uneconomical ERR (Economic Rate of Return) of 11% relative to the 12% Opportunity Cost of Capital for India." (Pg 32) "As explained in the section on Hydrology and Water Resources, for various reasons, the project as currently designed may exceed the estimated water requirements by at least 20%. (Pg 33) [Or, since the water allocation is limited, the SSP benefits as proposed today will fall short of 20%. Further, because there are other factors not considered in this, the actual fall in the benefits will be far more.] "It should be noted that throughout the project cycle, Bank missions showed some bias, largely shared by the Borrower also, towards the engineering aspects of the project. (Pg 35-36) "Fifteen years after the project was originally conceived, a mid- term review of the initial assumptions should be conducted and adjustments made to the present project design . . . Such adjustments should integrate the findings of the ongoing Environmental Impact Assessment . . . " (Pg 40) [NBA had also demanded this, with the addition that the work on the project be stopped till the review is complete, as otherwise adjustments suggested by review may have been rendered redundant by construction.] SUPREME COURT TO LOOK AT SSP ON 14 JULY 1995 The Supreme Court reopens on the 14 July 1995 after its vacation. The ongoing hearing in the SSP case is listed for the first day. Crucial directions are expected to be given regarding the publication of the Second (Further) report of the Five Member Review Group appointed by the Government of India.It may be recalled that the S.C. had asked the FMRG to look further into four specific issues (a) The Height of the dam (b) The Hydrology (c) Resettlement and Rehabilitation and (d) Environmental aspects, and to convey their firm conclusions on these. The Review Group had submitted the report on 17 April 1995 as requested by the Court. The Report lies on a sealed cover with the court. [The Supreme Court opened the Review on 14 July and set a date for the next hearing of 1 September - IRN] MEETING WITH MADHYA PRADESH CHIEF MINISTER The Andolan has been long involved in raising larger issues emanating from its struggle. It has also tried to initiate and be part of networking with other activists and struggling groups, both at the regional as well as the national level. A particularly important process in the recent year has been the coming together of various people's movements and groups working on displacement issues in Madhya Pradesh. As a part of this process, about 20 representatives of about as many groups met the Chief Minister Shri Digvijay Singh in Bhopal on 7 June 1995. The 3 hour long discussion was focused not only on other schemes in the Narmada Valley, but also on other projects like super thermal power plants in Singrauli, wildlife sanctuaries, dams, industrial estates and their impacts in the people. The thrust has been on evolving a common and just policy of the resettlement in the short run, with the focus on shifting the development process towards alternatives that are socially non- disruptive and environmentally sustainable. THE TEHRI DAM STRUGGLE Another struggle against large dams was in the news last fortnight as the fast unto death by veteran environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna entered into the fortieth days. Bahugunaji was calling for the Prime Minister to keep his promise--given three years ago--of reviewing the entire project. He was also calling for a complete stoppage of construction pending the completion of the review. Solidarity was expressed from all over the country, all over the world. On behalf of the Andolan, Medha Patkar rushed to Tehri, in spite of a ban on her entry to the area. She was arrested on her way to Tehri, and taken away to Delhi without being allowed to meet Sunderlalji. Later, after the arrest of Sunderlalji, she also went to Delhi again to express support and help organise some of the lobbying. Many protest actions were staged all over the country, and thousands of telegrams, faxes, poured into the Prime Minister's office from all over the World. Ultimately, the Government had to bow to the determination of Sunderlalji and the enormous support it generated. The P.M. gave an assurance of a review of the project, and Sunderlalji broke his fast on the 27 June 1995, on the 50th day ! We now await the initiation of the Review process by the P.M. Documents The documents mentioned in this update--the Bank's two Project Completion Reports (one on Dam & Power Project, one on Canals), OED's memos on the PCR, NBA letters to the EDs, etc. are available from International Rivers Network. Contact: Lori Udall irndc@igc.apc.org or Patrick McCully patrickirn@igc.apc.org Other documents, press cuttings etc. can be obtained from NBA: NBA, c/o B 13 Shivam Flats, Ellora Park Road, Baroda INDIA 390 007 Phone: (91)-265-340 168 Fax: c/o (91) 265 330430 or 338541 Attn. NBA 340168. From patrickirn@igc.apc.org Fri Jul 21 17:50:21 1995 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu by sea.cs.wisc.edu; Fri, 21 Jul 95 17:50:13 -0500; AA00830 Received: from cdp.igc.apc.org by lucy.cs.wisc.edu; Fri, 21 Jul 95 17:50:09 -0500 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by cdp.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.203 ) with SMTP id PAA24892; Fri, 21 Jul 1995 15:47:48 -0700 Received: (from patrickirn) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.14 ) id PAA02088; Fri, 21 Jul 1995 15:47:43 -0700 Date: Fri, 21 Jul 1995 15:47:43 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199507212247.PAA02088@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: ae140@leo.nmc.edu, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@luther.che.wisc.edu, gautam@qchem.kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp, mdharmaw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, narmada@lucy.cs.wisc.edu, srrajan@violet.berkeley.edu, ss@ce.ic.ac.uk, twn@unv.ernet.in Subject: New list for Environmental Issues in South Asia Cc: alau@sirius.com, AniD@aol.com, johna@uclink2.berkeley.edu, jvaidya@netcom.com >From nk18@columbia.edu Thu Jul 20 08:06:08 1995 Received: from mailhub.cc.columbia.edu (mailhub.cc.columbia.edu [128.59.35.137]) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.6 ) with SMTP id IAA29139 for ; Thu, 20 Jul 1995 08:06:05 -0700 Received: from [128.59.220.94] (alaska.sipa.columbia.edu) by mailhub.cc.columbia.edu with SMTP id AA22426 (5.65c+CU/IDA-1.4.4/HLK for ); Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:06:49 -0400 Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:06:49 -0400 Message-Id: <199507201506.AA22426@mailhub.cc.columbia.edu> To: patrickirn@igc.apc.org From: nk18@columbia.edu (Niraj Kumar) Subject: New list for Environmental Issues in South Asia Status: RO Dear Mr. McCully, I am sending you an announcement for a new discussion list fro environmental issues in South Asia. I would appreciate it if you can forward it to any appropriate forums that you may know about. I would also like your permission to repost some of your articles (e.g. on Narmada) on this list. Thank you Niraj Kumar School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University ---------------------------------- This announcement is being posted on multiple newsgroups and lists. If you receive more than one copy of this announcement, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A new list has been established to discuss environmental concerns in South Asia. Please feel free to forward this announcement to all who may be potentially interested. To subscribe to the list, send the following command in email to "s-asia-environ-request@columbia.edu": subscribe Or you can send mail to "majordomo@columbia.edu" with the following command in the body of your email message: subscribe s-asia-environ On subscribing, you will receive the following welcome message: "s-asia-environ" is UN-MODERATED. To post to the list, send an email to s-asia-environ@columbia.edu The subject line in your email should be used to briefly describe the focus of your email so as to enable other users to determine if it interests them. The purpose of is to serve as a forum for discussion of the multiple dimensions (including physical, chemical, ecological, political, socio-economic and cultural) of environmental issues facing South Asia, which is defined here to include Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Examples of topics germane to this list are - Impacts of global warming on South Asia (or a region within it) - Air/water pollution and land degradation problems in South Asia - Ecological research and conservation of biological diversity - Socio-economic research pertinent to environmental issues - Gender and environment - Environmental history / historical ecology - Political events that have a bearing on the status of environment in South Asia - Reports on progress of environmental protection initiatives, legislative or otherwise - Effectiveness and implementation of environmental laws and regulations - Activities of environmental NGOs (non-governmental organizations) - Sustainable development initiatives in South Asia - Inquiries and reports of environmental research in, and on South Asia - Notices of workshops and conferences with relevant themes - Job / research opportunities in these countries Why another environment list? While there are many existing environmental lists, none focus on South Asia in particular. Similarly, lists devoted to scientific aspects of the environment do not address specific socio-economic and political dimensions of environmental degradation in South Asia. This list is aimed at filling this gap. The gathering pace of industrialization, together with rising populations poses increasing threats to the environment of South Asia. These threats affect not only the natural environment (e.g. loss of biodiversity) but also large numbers of people who depend on natural resources for their subsistence. Additionally, urban areas in S. Asia are increasingly plagued by air and water pollution. In response to these increasing threats, recent years have seen a large number of grassroots initiatives and campaigns to counter these trends. Governments have also responded in the form of laws, regulations and protected areas, designed for environmental protection. The field of environmental activity in South Asia is vast and rapidly growing. No single individual can keep track of all this activity. This list is intended both as a forum for discussion and to facilitate exchange of information among the participants. Proper netiquette should be maintained at all times. While it is entirely appropriate to disagree with and criticize ideas and opinions, personal attacks or flames will not be tolerated. This list is hosted by Dr. Niraj Kumar (nk18@columbia.edu) of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. From patrickirn@igc.apc.org Wed Jul 26 13:49:34 1995 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu by sea.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 26 Jul 95 13:49:30 -0500; AA28940 Received: from cdp.igc.apc.org by lucy.cs.wisc.edu; Wed, 26 Jul 95 13:49:27 -0500 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by cdp.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.203 ) with SMTP id LAA22517; Wed, 26 Jul 1995 11:48:19 -0700 Received: (from patrickirn) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.14 ) id LAA01550; Wed, 26 Jul 1995 11:48:12 -0700 Date: Wed, 26 Jul 1995 11:48:12 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199507261848.LAA01550@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: ae140@leo.nmc.edu, alau@sirius.com, AniD@aol.com, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@luther.che.wisc.edu, johna@uclink2.berkeley.edu, jvaidya@netcom.com, mdharmaw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, narmada@lucy.cs.wisc.edu, s-asia-environ@colombia.edu, srrajan@violet.berkeley.edu Subject: Urgent Narmada Valley Action (fwd from india) /* Written 5:19 PM Jul 25, 1995 by tadepall@godel.CS.ORST.EDU in igc:alt.india.prog */ /* ---------- "Urgent Narmada Valley Action (fwd f" ---------- */ From: "Dr. Vinod Pavarala" Subject: Urgent Narmada Action!! WATER RISES TO 91m--DROWNING IMMINENT An urgent meeting was held today (July 25) at Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal with Medha Patkar of the Narmada Andolan. According to first-hand given by her, water level at Narmada has dangerously risen to 91 meters. About 1500 houses, thousands of tribals (including women and children) in three states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh) are facing submergence. As some of you may know, there is a massive satyagraha being organized in the affected area, with people refusing to move out of their homes and fields in spite of the danger to their lives. So, please send a fax message to the chief minister of Maharashtra (who had promised to review the state's involvement in the project in April) demanding immediate action. The following is a text of the fax suggested by Medha Patkar. You may send the fax to M.M.Joshi, Chief Minister, Maharashtra--at 91-022-363-1446 or 202-9214. Thank you very much. (Development Alternatives Network (DAN), IIT-Bombay) =========================================================== Dear Sir, This is to draw your attention to the serious situation in the Narmada valley with water levels rising dangerously to 91 meters as of July 25. Thousands of tribals, including women and children, are facing the threat of submergence and fighting a battle of life and death. As the chief minister of Maharashtra, you will be held completely responsible for the fate of tribals belonging to about 15 Maharashtra villages within the valley. Even after promising action in your meeting with NBA leaders in April, you have neither allowed the affected people to be submerged nor have you provided any compensation or rehabilitation. As people concerned with the disastrous consequences of the Sardar Sarovar Project, we demand an urgent response from your government to the impending serious situation in the valley as well to Maharashtra's involvement in the project.