From csedel@cse.unv.ernet.in Mon Jul 8 11:17:33 1996 Received: from nacho.cs.wisc.edu (nacho.cs.wisc.edu [128.105.66.15]) by sea.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA02348 for ; Mon, 8 Jul 1996 11:16:53 -0500 Received: from vikram.doe.ernet.in (vikram.doe.ernet.in [202.41.100.90]) by nacho.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id LAA00708 for ; Mon, 8 Jul 1996 11:13:25 -0500 Received: from unv.UUCP by doe.ernet.in (4.1/SMI-4.1-MHS-7.0) id AA13195; Mon, 8 Jul 96 21:47:36+050 Message-Id: <9607081647.AA13195@doe.ernet.in> Received: by unv.ernet.in (1.65/waf) via UUCP; Mon, 08 Jul 96 16:26:16 +5.5 for narmada@nacho.cs.wisc.edu Received: from csedel@cse by UUCP (PMail+UDG PegWaf v0.26 93.04.04) id 0799 for narmada@nacho.cs.wisc.edu; Mon, 8 Jul 1996 15:38:52 IST +5.5 From: csedel@cse.unv.ernet.in To: @unv.ernet.in, bwref@gn.apc.org.patrick@irn.org, narmada@nacho.cs.wisc.edu, ecologist@gn.apc.org, sha@lwbom.nandanet.com, kamal@imsc.ernet.in, nity.jour@axcess.net.in, jong@irc.nl Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 15:38:50 X-File: NLTRJUNE.TXT X-Finfo: DOS,"NLTRJUNE.TXT",,,,Text Subject: letter from Himanshu,CSE Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail v3.22 Organization: Centre for Science and Environment, N.Delhi Dear Sir/ Madam, Attached you will find the second issue of our review on water policy related issues. This is largely a research tool for inhouse use, which we hope will later develop into a campaign newsletter. We are sharing this with a few people like you who have been intimately connected with the issue and to whom this may be of use. We are hoping for a feedback from you about material and persons working in the field of water related issues. Water has been a subject of longstanding interest for CSE, and now we hope to work more consistently on water policy issues. We hope this is beginning of a long term two way, rather a meaningful multi pronged communication. In this venture, we look forward to active involvement from you. Let us know about any news, event, publication, anything on water policy related issues that you are involved in or is happening in your area. If you know of any forthcoming significant event, let us know at the earliest. Many of you have reponded to our first issue, but many more have not. We would like to get active responses from all of you. We also would like to know from you your suggestions on the format and content of the review, and what more needs to be included. Also let us know if you would like to continue to get this review. Let us know if you have an email address where this can be sent, as that is more convenient and quicker. Awaiting your response, Yours Sincerely, (Himanshu Thakkar) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY REVIEW - WATER CAMPAIGN ________________________________________________________________________ C E N T R E F O R S C I E N C E A N D E N V I R O N M E N T ISSUE TWO IN THIS ISSUE: SECTION COMMENT 1 WATER NEWS-INDIA 2 WATER POLLUTION NEWS 5 WATER NEWS-SOUTH ASIA 8 WATER NEWS-REST OF THE WORLD 9 WETLANDS NEWS 1 UPDATE ON INDIAN DAMS 12 UPDATE ON SOUTH ASIAN DAMS 14 UPDATE ON DAMS FROM REST OF THE WORLD 14 WORLD BANK, INTERNATIONAL AID 17 COURT NEWS COURT NEWS ON POLLUTION 20 PUBLICATIONS ON WATER 20 FORTHCOMING EVENTS 20 A SPECIAL REPORT 2 COMMENT: WILL WE HAVE A BETTER DEAL FROM UF? The United Front government at the center has had some interesting aspects in its official pronouncements till date. The Prime Minister Shri Deve Gowda, in his maiden address to nation reiterated what was said in its fundamental policy document titled "A Common Approach to Major Policy Matters and a Minimum Program" (CMP) of the UF government, "Frequent floods and droughts cause misery to farmers all over the country. A national policy on water sharing and water management will be formulated to save them from such disasters... We will ensure by the end of ninth plan that every habitation has access to safe drinking water." However, on the same issue, CMP had a not so interesting element: "In cooperation with the states, larger funds will be allocated for irrigation." This continued policy of looking at irrigation in isolation of comprehensive land and water management policy can only mean that the country will go on pursuing the big dam centered policies, which has already proved to be disastrous. This conclusion is further justified by the total absence of any mention of watershed development in CMP or in the PM's address. Some other noteworthy components of the CMP are: * The UF is forming a committee to protect and preserve the environment and the adoption of green policies in every walk of life. UF's policy on environment will be consistent with the need for rapid and sustainable economic development. * Stern action will be taken against the pollution and the polluters. * Steps will be taken to ensure devolution of administrative and financial powers to panchayats and nagarpalikas in all states. * The Official Secrets Act will be reviewed and amended keeping in tune with the need for openness and transparency in Governance. A Bill on Freedom of Information will be introduced within six months to give the people access to information at all levels. The policy document commits specific measures where it sees broad consensus and promises formation of further committees and commissions (a time-tested way of avoiding action without seeming to be avoiding) where it sees the chances of conflicts. While this cannot be faulted in many other issues, on environmental issues, lack of commitment to any specific and effective measures has to be watched with great caution. It remains to be seen how far the new government implements its promise of an effective national water policy. WATER NEWS-INDIA: SUCCESSFUL WATER STRUGGLES IN GUJARAT: Manviya Technology Forum (MTF), an NGO which is spearheading water related people's struggles in Bharuch district in Gujarat, has, amazingly, won at least seven battles in less than four years in Bharuch district for the people's right for control over the water resources in their area. Fought under the name of different committees and in different areas in the district, they are very important pointers to the utter lack of policy and coordination between different agencies in a state that is in the forefront of industrialisation today. The future directions While the sequence of rapid victories of the people's well-informed initiatives is heartening and once again proving that only such initiatives can lead to any significant change, the utter lack of clear policy and any coordination between the various pollution control and related agencies can have only disastrous implications for natural resources of Gujarat. What is exasperating, as Ashok Rathi of MTF said at the Bharuch citizen's meeting in June is that the river has no value beyond the pollution carrying capacity as GPCB and GIDC sees it. At another level, for Sardar Sarovar authorities, GIDC, GWSSB and the industries, the river is just another source of water. Such fragmented view of important components of natural resources cannot lead to any sustainable development but only lead to destruction. The sequence of successes of MTF and the various samities has brought them to a stage where it is likely to become more and more difficult to sustain the momentum and enthusiasm of the people. As they come in confrontation with the vested interests, they will need to broad-base their support, instruments and strategies to be successful in effecting policy changes. List of successes of the Manviya Technology Forum struggles in Bharuch: 1. IPCL was forced to abandon Rs 9 crore plan to take groundwater from Amod taluka. June 1993 2. GEB was forced to cut off power connection of GACL to take water from private tubewells in Amod taluka. July 1994 3. GWSSB was forced to make IPCL-GACL to hand over the Rs. 12 crore pipe-line and fork out another Rs. 30 lakhs in lieu of taking GWSSB water for limited period. Apr. 1995 4. GIDC was forced to stop construction of effluent pipeline from its Vagra estate to Narmada estuary. Nov. 1995 5. GIDC was forced to stop construction of effluent pipeline from its Jhagadia estate to release the effluents into Narmada river at Haripura village, to give the study of release of effluents from Jhagadia, Ankleshwar and Panoli GIDC estates to sea and GIDC was forced to give an undertaking that till such an effluent channel is ready, no further than the existing 4 units will be allowed to start operation at Jhagadia. Jan. 1996 6. GIDC and Ankleshwar Industries Association were forced to fork out Rs. 65 lakhs along with local MPs and clean up the Amlakhadi in record period of one month. Jan. 1996 7. Rajshree Polyfills Ltd. was forced to stop construction of effluent pipeline to release the effluents into Narmada and GPCB was forced to review its consent for the same. Mar 1996 SOLUTION TO SAURASHTRA'S WATER PROBLEM According to Samajibhai Antala, the well-known leader of Saurashtra Lokmanch, Saurashtra annually receives 47.4 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of rainfall, but only 5% of it percolates to groundwater and 85% gets washed away into the sea. Due to negligence of our planners and governments, the once green and rich area has been converted into desert area. This problem cannot be solved by Narmada project, Kalpsar project or such other projects. Only people's efforts can lead to solution of the problem. Citing the successful water recharging movement in Saurashtra lead by him he says that through the help of 7.5 lakh wells and various tanks and ponds, at least 2 MAF of water can be additionally recharged annually. (Loksatta-a Gujarati daily-960520) PEOPLE'S ACTION IN AP TO SAVE A LAKE A very interesting story of how the people of village Seri Lingampally of Ranga Reddy District saved lake Gopi Cheruvu from the clutches of the Doyens construction, a builder. The village is forms part of the proposed mega city of Hyderabad. The article also discusses the policy and legislative steps necessary to save such water bodies in and around the growing megacities. (Economic and Political Weekly 960622) PLEA FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LAND AND WATER POLICY Noted water policy expert B B Vohra has in a long article attempted to outline the present disarray in the field of resource management, to view it in its historical setting and to suggest how it may be possibly remedied before the point of no return is reached. Advocating for a comprehensive land and water management policy, he has said that further investment in the creation of fresh potential in the surface irrigation sector must be suspended and all available resources should be diverted towards the utilisation of the very substantial potential that has been already created but not used. (Economic and Political Weekly, June 8, 1996) REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY CAN END CAUVERY ROW?: Dr. M.G.Chandrashekar of ISRO said that remote sensing data can help solve the Cauvery water sharing problem. He said that that satellite imageries had shown that Tamil Nadu has more groundwater which was not exploited compared to Karnataka and it was depending excessively on Cauvery water. He regretted that the remote sensing data is used to the extent it should be by the decision-makers. (Deccan Herald 960527) WATER SESSION AT THE CSE ENVIRONMENT ECONOMICS SEMINAR The session on water at the CSE Environment Economics Seminar was chaired by the former member of Planning Commission Shri L.C.Jain. In his keynote, Shri Ramaswamy Iyer, former secretary ministry of water resources emphasised that there is need for a comprehensive and effective national water policy in which the large dams should be taken up, if at all, only as a last resort. The CSE status paper prepared for the occasion showed the planners have been manipulating the economic calculations to push ahead with the unjustified large dam projects. DELHI WATER SUPPLY SITUATION According to a WWF-N report done for the government of Delhi, Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking (DWSSDU), the city is experiencing a shortage of 100 million gallons per day (mgd) in its present demand of 750 mgd. This shortage is likely to rise to 932 mld by the year 2001. Based on the statistics provided by the National Institute of Urban Affairs, the report foresees a demand of 5121 mld as against a supply of 4189 mld. The report delves quite a bit into the disparities in the supply of water within the city. It says the New Delhi Municipal Committee area, which is just 2.88 percent of the total land area of the capital and has 3.2 percent of Delhi's population living in it, gets a supply of 401 litters per capita per day, even though the stipulated rate for this VIP area in 303 lpcd. It calls the NDMC area "the most pampered water consumers in the country" stating the per capita water consumption in some private houses in Jor Bagh goes upto 750 lpcd while at Ashoka Road it reaches upto 786 lpcd. On the other hand, the MCD area receives 182 lpcd. The residents of Golf Links and Sunder Nagar get 454.2 lpcd water, while the squatter, unauthorised and resettlement colonies have no access to a regular water supply who manage 15.14 to 18.92 lpcd of water from public hydrants. The report also states the trans-Yamuna area, which houses more than 25 percent of Delhi's population, uses just 2 percent of water supply. (TOI 960608) ** A number of articles of interest on Delhi's water situation and alternative solutions appear in Nov.-Dec. 1995 issue of Spatio-Economic Development Record. These include papers of INTACH's initiative on Delhi Water Issues. MP TO PRIVATISE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY Government of Madhya Pradesh has decided to hand over the drinking water supply to private parties. The scheme will start with Dewas town and if found successful, will be extended to Jabalpur, Bhopal, Raipur etc. (MP Chronicle, 960615) The Hindi daily Nai Duniya wrote an editorial (on 960608) criticising this move. ** Maharashtra had identified 52 irrigation projects (1 major, 19 medium and 29 minor and 2 lift) with total estimated cost of Rs. 940.36 crores for privatisation. (Water and Energy International, Vol. 53 No. 1, Jan-Mar. '96) ** 18 of the 55 reservoirs of Rajkot, Jamnagar and Amreli district in Gujarat has overflowed in just first week of rains. (Telegraph 960621) ** Many towns and villages of Gujarat, including Baroda and Ahmedabad were in severe outbreak of cholera and gastro-enteritis. According to J.C.Gandhi, Joint Director, Dept. of Health, Gandhinagar, "Because of the water shortage, people often drink water that is contaminated. That, I think, is the major reason for the outbreak. (IE 960617) ** Number of problem villages from drinking water point of view in Punjab has gone up to 8679 out of total of 12425 villages over the last 35 years. (Pioneer, 960611) ** The Rajasthan cities of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner will soon get waters of Ravi and Beas rivers through Indira Gandhi canal. Jodhpur already gets 36 MLD of such water. (TOI 960527) ** According to the figures released by the Giri Institute of Development Studies in Lucknow, agricultural growth rate in Uttar Pradesh has declined from almost three percent to 1.76 percent, and about 0.56 percent below population growth rate of 2.3 percent in the post reform period. All crops, except wheat, have registered a decline. What is equally alarming is that even when agricultural growth rate has increased, the demand for food- grains particularly in the rural areas has not shown a proportionate increase. With malnutrition widely prevalent in rural areas of some of the states, the lack of demand is a clear pointer towards rural poverty. (TOI 960618) WATER POLLUTION NEWS PIONEERING ACTIONS OF MPCB The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has derecognised all the 308 private environment consultants and 150 private labs for pleasing industries and bullying the MPCB with their green certificates. MPCB chairman Rajan Shirodkar & Secretary C S Sangitrao said that the consultants & labs were giving "manipulated results" and giving no-objection certificates even to polluting units. All tests are now being done at the MPCB laboratories. Before these agencies were derecognised, Maharashtra did not have even one polluting industry on paper. Said Mr. Sangitrao, "Once we began checking, we were forced to temporarily close down 361 industrial units for non compliance of pollution control norms." MPCB is setting up new laboratories and the World Bank is also giving the MPCB equipment worth Rs. 4.5 crores to help monitor pollution levels. In another significant pioneering development, MPCB has drawn up a proposal to set up "no development zones" around all the 19 river systems in the state, Mr Sangitrao said. A similar scheme is already in operation at the Bhatsa river, which supplies drinking water to Mumbai. A government notification in 1987 banned the setting up of industries within three kilometers of Bhatsa. The board has divided river water into four categories. The A-1 category pertains to the initial stretch of a river, that is from the source to the first storage dam. It is necessary to keep this zone in the purest state as any pollution here would contaminate the entire river. The MPCB proposes to ban the development of any industry within three kilometers of this zone and also ban the development of polluting industries within eight km of this zone. With regard to the three other zones, the proposal states that no industry be set up within 500 meters of the river bank. The board had also recently taken a decision to ban the setting up of 12 highly polluting industries in Mahad and Taloja. (TOI 960606, Deccan Herald 960606) In 1990-91, MPCB sent notices to four units to clean up. In 1994-95 the figure was fifteen. "Something was very wrong, the pollution was there for every one to see and yet our data showed there was none." says Sangitrao. In 1995-96, after he took over as MPCB chief, 500 units located all over the state were sent notices to clean up or close down. But it was not the numbers but the section of the law applied that lead to the panic reaction among the industries. Earlier only an ordinary criminal complaint was filed and the onus of proving guilt was on the MPCB. Also it meant that a few years passed before the appropriate court order could be obtained. This time around the MPCB has used Section 33 A of the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution Act and Section 31 A of the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution Act. Both the sections give the state pollution control boards sweeping powers to issue show cause notices to defaulting companies, and to demand a plan to redress the problem. To start with, the onus of proving its innocence lies with the company. It is also forced to take action within the timeframe given to it by the MPCB. "It is time that pollution is seen as a policy issue" says Sangitrao. A locational policy will soon be before board members. Some highlight: No industries will be allowed to come within 3 km of a sweet water source. Only 14 green industries will be allowed within a 3 km to 8 km band. Others will have to be located beyond an 8 km span. (Economic Times(Ahmedabad) 960605) THE NINTH PLAN STRATEGY TO CONTROL POLLUTION The CPCB has chalked out a four-pronged strategy for controlling the pollution: imposing a restriction on polluting technologies, restriction/ban on polluting products, restriction of polluting industries inside designated areas and promotion of clean technologies and environment friendly products (ecomark) are some of the highlights of the Ninth five-year plan due to start in April 1997. POLLUTION SCENE IN STATES According to a report of the Confederation of Indian Industries-northern region based on the information supplied by the state pollution control boards, the industries in Gujarat appear to be more concerned about pollution control, where 94 percent of the units have installed adequate emission and effluent treatment systems, compared to dismal state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. A strange conclusion indeed. (Look at the Special Report below.) (TOI 960604) THE POLLUTED SONE Life has become a constant struggle for the people of some 157 villages on the banks of the Sone river in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. The effluents from the 225 tonnes per day capacity Orient Paper Mills which draws some 65,000 cubic meters of water per day has made the river, the only source of water for the villagers poisoned, also affecting their lands. The Birla owned mills was set up in 1965. Due to the sustained efforts of the people, the petition committee of the state assembly, in its recent report to the legislature has asked the government to consider closing down the units if it fails to control pollution. (Down to Earth 960715) GANGA ACTION PLAN A FAILURE? According to Prof. S.N. Upadhyay of Chemical Engineering dept. at Banares Hindu University says that the amount of Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Dissolved Solids and Couliform level in the waters of Ganga has increased after ten years of implementation of Ganga Action Plan and expenditure of over Rs. 50 crores. (Jansatta 960618) ** CPCB has found that a number of industries in Punjab and Haryana, public health engg. dept. of Chandigarh and Haryana irrigation dept. are responsible for the jaundice out break in Hanumangarh dist. in Rajasthan for the last three years. The untreated effluents of the industries accumulate on the dry bed of Ghaggar river and get washed into Hanumangarh in monsoon. Also, due to damaged siphon of south Ghaggar Canal which supplies 266 cusecs of water to Rajasthan, the pollutants enter canal water which supply to Rajasthan villages. CPCB has asked the state units to initiate action, failing which it will order shut down of the units. (Economic Times 960509) ** The Tungabhadra river, which was once the lifeline for those residing on its banks, has slowly, over the years become a source of stinking and putrefied water, thanks to the industries set up alongside the river, which discharge effluents without chemical treatment. (Indian Express Banglore, 960523) ** The action of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board in ordering closure of 10 dyeing units in and around Coimbture have been opposed by the workers of the factories. (Hindu 960611) ** A big tannery is being planned to set up in Tamil Nadu by the New Hampshire based Shaf Master Leather Company. The American company has found the state as ideal place to locate a tannery with a capacity to produce 10 to 12 million square feet of finished leather per year. If approved it will mark the beginning of entry of foreign companies into India into yet another area of industrial activity that is known to be highly polluting. Many western companies have banned tanneries within their borders for environmental reasons. Tanneries consume huge amounts of potable water and throw out dirty, acidic waste water neither fit for drinking water nor for agriculture. In Vaniambadi in TN, tanneries have led to well waters turning salty to depths of 60 meters depriving people of their traditional source of drinking water. In Pallavaram, a suburb of Madras, there is not a single well with sweet water. (Hindu, 960621) ** A paper mill continues to release effluents into the Bathinda branch of Sirihind canal, which supplies drinking & irrigation water to Bathinda, Mansa and some other parts of adjoining districts. (Tribune 960619) ** The new DMK government in Tamil Nadu has ordered review of the controversial nylon 6-6 project of Thapar-Dupont ltd. that had to leave Goa on environmental grounds. (Business Standard 960610, Hindu 960607) WATER NEWS-SOUTH ASIA: ORANGI- THE SUCCESSFUL CASE OF URBAN SELF-HELP GROUP OF SLUM Orangi, the infamous squatter settlement of over a million inhabitants has today become an example of successful urban self-help group of slum settlement. Aid agencies, from the World Bank to Britain's Water Aid, are queuing up to help groups who are ready to follow Orangi model of development. Helped by the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP), which operates with little government help and often refuses foreign aid, Orangi is home to what many see as the world's most successful experiment in improving the lot of poor urban people. It all began with some simple technology and some revolutionary politics. They started with trying to solve their sewage problem and went on tackle other problems like housing, employment, heath, education. In 1980, Akhter Hameed Akhan, who is named as pioneer of the movement, concluded, "It was clear that the municipal authorities would never be able to built sanitation for the poor. They are too feeble and corrupt. Foreign aid was unlikely to help because it would become lost in the deep pockets of unscrupulous local contractors, leaving the poor to pay the bills. There was only one solution-to find way for community t solve the problem itself." In what followed, government help and foreign aid was refused and the community was told to fund the system itself. A cheap successful system was built and is being operated by the communities. The approach is being followed in other Karanchi settlements and other cities of Pakistan like Lahore, Faisalabad, etc. (Squatters take Control, New Scientist, June 1, 1996.) ** Administration of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have imposed complete ban on dumping of garbage, boating, bathing and swimming in Rawal lake for a period of two months to protect one of the two sources of water for the twin cities. ( Frontier Post, Pakistan, 960406) ** The privatisation of the canal water system have been opposed by Pakistan Engineer Congress & Farmers' Association of Pakistan. They allege that the move that will ruin the country's economy is being pushed under pressure from the WB-IMF-ADB lobby. (The Muslim, Pakistan, 960415) ** Two giant paper mills in Barak valley, one of them in India, it is alleged, is releasing untreated effluents into Barak river, polluting the downstream Surma and Kushiara rivers, threatening the life of fish and people on the banks of these rivers. (Daily Star, Bangladesh, 960418) ** The Federal government will impose a pollution charge on all industries from July 1, 1996. The charge will be calculated on the basis of pollution load. It is suggested that the charge should be high enough to induce the industry to clean up. (The News, Pakistan, 960425) WATER NEWS-REST OF THE WORLD LAND-WATER MISMATCH: A slowly growing awareness of the close links between land use and water resources is now reflected in a new interest in the consequences for governance. Environmental and natural resources management without land/water integration as a necessary component will not be successful. Examples of such land and water mismanagement are widespread. In Asia, both groundwater and rivers are severely polluted by both human waste, industrial pollutants and agricultural chemicals. In Denmark, the upper groundwater is severely and irreversibly polluted by fertilisers to levels beyond potability levels. In Australia, large land areas are becoming salinized by rising groundwater, generated by past deforestation, to such a degree that total evacuation of these areas may become necessary. In Kenya, water courses, passing through natural parks where elephants find their drinking water, are being emptied by farmers' irrigation practices higher upstream. In Florida, the Everglades wetlands have passed through whole sequence of water management phases involving drainage of peat lands, flood protection structures, canals, etc. The administrative mismatch implies that management of land and water are implemented on different arenas and by different actors with different mental images of the resource base. The basic barriers to successful integration are however perceptional. Both in the North and the South, the land/water dichotomy is formed in education, and strengthened in professional life and by recruitment policies and a fragmented preoccupation of professionals. If land/water linkages are a consequence of natural processes, they are of non-negotiable character, and have to be adapted to by proper management models. In spite of their importance for the achievement of environmentally sustainable development, only few models are yet in place from which experience can be sought. The crucial level for an integrated approach is the drainage basin, where land and water resources action plans can best be produced. Just as an integrated view is needed on the basin level, governments themselves have to be able to integrate their decisions. For this purpose somebody in the government must be responsible for integrating mutually dependent sectors like land and water. (Synopsis of report from an international seminar on Land/Water Integration in Natural Resource Management, Friibergh Manor, Sweden, 24-26 Oct. 1994. Ambio Vol. 25 No.3, May 1996, pp. 211-2.) THE FUTURE OF FRESH WATER In the emerging scene of water crisis, it is not surprising that over the past few years international gatherings of experts have been trying to gather research data on existing fresh water sources at the global level and assess possibilities of replenishing these. The International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) has been engaged in this task and only three years ago, it paved the way for establishing a new Scientific Committee on Water Research (SCOWAR) in order to address frontier of fresh water-related science issues. The Union of International Technical Associations (UITA) helped in this formation although it plans to set up a parallel body to work in synergy with SCOWAR which will have members representing a wide range of water- related scientific disciplines. Understandably enough, the terms of reference for SCOWAR include the identification of key issues relating to the assessment, protection, development and management of fresh water resources. (Hindu edit, 960607) CHANGING FACE OF AUSTRALIAN WATER DEVELOPMENT There is a widespread acceptance that the nineties are seeing the emergence of a new paradigm for water management, an important element is a better appreciation of all the sources, stores and sinks for water and contaminants as they enter and move through the landscape. This will be done on a catchment basis, and will come to be viewed as rate-of-movement problems rather than mass storage problems. (Stockholm Water Front, June 1996) WATER QUALITY BOMB: WAITING TO EXPLODE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Historically, water resources have been considered infinite and their exploitation a God-given right. Today, scientist and research groups are coming to the conclusion that the costs of managing water resources in such a manner may have been greater than anyone ever imagined. Although the role water plays in the stability of the Dominican Republic is well recognized by the government, there exists no comprehensive plan r management approach for dealing with its allocation, quality, protection, or use. A total of 64 government-level policies deal with watersheds. "None of these entities have demonstrated a capacity to develop and undertake an integrated approach to watershed management." Currently there are 11 international, 11 national, and five major nongovernmental agencies, as well as a large number of private institutions, agencies, and groups involved in watershed management in the Dominican Republic. Dominican water use and water management are characterized by "inappropriate water pricing policies, government institutions that don't pay for the use of water and electricity, low levels of coordination among institutions, too many and obsolete laws and regulations, and a lack of national strategy on natural resources management". At first glance the water quantity and quality problems of the Rio Yaque look like a bomb has already exploded polluting the entire watershed. On closer inspection, it is clear that a bomb hasn't exploded, but is being built through neglect, lack of knowledge, lack of law enforcement, extreme poverty, and insufficient funding for the government agencies responsible for the health and welfare of the Dominican people. Only 14% of rural people have access to safe drinking water either from hand pumps or government distribution sites. Furthermore, most of the urban and rural poor (25% of the population do not have access to potable water supplies and are forced to take their daily water supplies from contaminated surface water sources. This paper describes water-quality problems associated with waste streams entering the Rio Yaque del Norte river and some of the related impacts on the people, from its headwater to the mouth of the river. This longest river of Dominican Republic, the Yaque del Norte, is 296 km long and drains 15% of the country. The Rio Yaque dle Norte watershed provides a perfect example of the agricultural, industrial commercial, rural and urban water contamination problems found in the Dominican Republic.(Witter Scott, Carrasco Domingo, Ambio, Vol. 25, No.3, May 1996, pp199-203) DROUGHT-FAMINE IN AFRICA Although droughts are mainly natural in origin, all evidence suggests that desertification results from the removal of the vegetation cover by man and livestock; there is no evidence for a long-term climatic change. Future research and development projects aimed at stopping desertification and coping with drought must accept, understand and incorporate the land of knowledge possessed by pastoralists and cultivators, who lived in these savanna regions for ages. Indeed, a nomadic life-style is the only sustainable means of making use of such land. Governments that appropriate the best land for cash crops displace local farmers and herdsmen, forcing them to eke out a living in the relatively more marginal areas. As arid and semiarid lands less suitable to rain supported agriculture are put to plow, the probability that drought will affect farming adversely and lead to desertification will increase. Zimbabwe is one of the few success in peasant agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. The success of Zimbabwe peasant agriculture lies in the fact that the government has improved the rural infrastructure and offers sufficient incentives to small-scale farmers to produce food. In order to alleviate droughts, the government has, in addition to other steps, built a number of medium and small dams to act as sources of water for people and their livestock in times of drought. This is what has made Zimbabwe one of the few countries in Africa which is not only able to feed itself, but is also an exporter of food to neighboring countries. Prescription from such international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank has tended to confuse the real issues and have in many instances led to serious social and political upheaval, e.g. what happened in Tunisia and Zambia. (Shem Chaibva, Ambio, Vol. 25, No.3, May 1996, pp 212-3) SOUTH WEST US FACES SEVERE DROUGHT A large part of southwest US, including Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma and the regions along the US-Mexico border are facing the prospects of worst drought since the records are available. Depleting water supplies are leading to limiting many activities. It is being termed "a national disaster" by many. Soil conservation measures implemented after the dark period in 1930s have lessened the impact of the current drought. Agriculture, tourism, industries are getting affected. (Hindustan Times 960604) WETLANDS NEWS MOVE TO SAVE CHILKA The Orissa government is planning to launch a desiltation project for rapidly silting Chilka lake. The Tenth finance Commission has sanctioned Rs 5.4 crore for the project. Chilka Development Agency set up in 1988, is likely to be in charge of the project.(BPO 960529) ** Whether it is Lok Sabha election or Assembly election, leaders of all political parties make the repair and maintenance of the 300 acre Sagar lake (Madhya Pradesh) as their election plank. The water of the 11th century lake is polluted due to continuous discharge of city sewage into it. (MP Chronicle 960511) ** Four lakes in Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal's lower and upper lake, Gwalior's Miti Mahal and Sagar lake are fast choking as a result of high-rises and slums in the surrounding areas. Authorities have taken up a Rs. 231 crore OECF funded project to save the lakes. But uncertainties loom large over this much awaited project. (Telegraph, 960515) RESTORATION OF YOLO The loss of more than 95% of California's Central Valley wetlands to agriculture and urban development since the 1850s provided the impetus to develop a concept for restoration in the Yolo Basin area. (Wetlands Link International News July 1996) UPDATE ON INDIAN DAMS NO TO POOYAMKUTTI? The new Union Minister of state for Environment and Forests has refused to give clearance to the controversial Pooyamkutti hydro electric project of Kerala as it submerges 6000 hectares of good forests. (Indian Express 960705) UPPER KRISHNA Even as the dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh remains unresolved, the Prime Minister shri H D Deve Gowda is considering all-about 15-major irrigation projects with costs over Rs 1000 crore as national projects, for which half the money will be contributed by the center. Gowda, as Chief Minister of Karnataka, had been demanding that the Upper Krishna project be declared national project so that the project could be completed before 2000. In the meantime, all the opposition parties in AP, including Congress, BJP and TDP(Parvati) have mounted pressure on the state government to pressurise the Karnataka and the Union government to agree not to raise the height of the UKP beyond what was decided by Bachavat Tribunal and if necessary go to the Supreme Court for the same. (Deccan Herald 960617, 960616, 960605, Hindu 960606 etc.) MONSOON SATYAGRHA IN BARGI: Tired with the lack of progress in rehabilitation of the oustees of Bargi dam, the Bargi Bandh Visthapeet avam Prabhaveet Sangh has decided to launch Satyagrha this monsoon and not allow the authorities to fill water above 418 mts when FRL of the completed dam is 421 mts. This, the activists claim, will make available 5000 hectares of extra land to the oustees who have been fight for rehabilitation since 1991. Following intense struggle, the state government had, in a path breaking move, handed over the fisheries rights of the reservoir to the oustees and formed a joint committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B.D.Sharma in 1994. But when two years of process failed to lead to any effective solution, the oustees have decided to relaunch the agitation this coming monsoon.(Source: Bargi Bandh Visthapeet avam Prabhaveet Sangh) SARDAR SAROVAR It seems the Sardar Sarovar authorities are bent on submerging rich archaeological heritage even without primary investigation. Recent investigations since early this year by the team of Dr.S.B.Ota, senior archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India have lead to civilization dating back to around 1600 B.C., a transitional civilization from stone age to copper age. The team has found chalcolithic mould including evidences of iron smelting along with stone tools in the fields of village Khaparkheda (Tehsil Kukshi, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh). Ota's earlier investigations at the Pipri-Utavad site had provided evidence of the chalcolithic civilization like the base of houses, hearths, pits, pottery, large vases and storage vases, copper ornaments and various beads. Dr. Ota's familiarity with the Narmada valley dates back to 1988-89 when he found stone age settlement along with evidences of Iron Age at village Balwada in the submergence zone of Narmada Sagar Project. In the preliminary survey of 167 villages, ASI found archaeological mounds in 132 villages and recommended full exploration. The Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, not very happy with this prospect, asked the state Archaeology department, which gave clearance to both NSP and SSP without full investigation. Significantly, Association of Study of History and Archaeology, in a meeting in Aligarh on June 15-17 in Aligarh "unanimously resolved to protest against submergence of archaeologically rich but as yet largely unexamined sites in Narmada valley in the backwaters of Sardar Sarovar and Narmada Sagar dam... and to urge the ASI and the state archaeology and museum departments of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to take urgent measures to excavate and salvage all the archaeologically and historically important sites, antiquities and monumental remains that are threatened by submergence." (Source: Narmada Bachao Andolan) Narmada Bachao Andolan is to launch a novel Narmada navnirman satyagraha this monsoon in the villages facing submergence by the on going construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project. It will have many programs underlining the celebration of right to life of the people in the Narmada valley, including tree-planting, housing, bio-gas plants, soil- water conservation works, small irrigation schemes, schools, etc. (Source: NBA) Meanwhile, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. has agree to supply about 200 million liters per day for Ahmedabad city. This is shocking as there is no provision in the SSP for any domestic and industrial water supply south of Shedhi river, which includes Ahmedabad. (Sandesh(Gujarati daily), 960519) ** Advisor, Narmada Valley Development Authority Government of Madhya Pradesh M.S.Billore has recommended that in view of the review of major projects for development of water resources in Narmada Basin being undertaken by the Madhya Pradesh government, it is appropriate that small hydro project be formulated and proposed for hydropower development in Narmada Valley.(Water & Energy International, June 1996) MP AGREES TO HAND OVER TAWA RESERVOIR TO OUSTEES: After years of struggle by the oustees for rehabilitation, Madhya Pradesh Government has agreed to hand over the Tawa reservoir to the oustees. The last contentious issue of royalty was settled when the government agreed to oustees demand that royalty from the oustees be collected at Rs 6 per Kg of fish catch and Rs 4 be contributed by the tribal welfare department. The official announcement is awaited, and if we go by the experience of the slips between the cup and the lips till date, the oustees may have to fight another round of battle as yet. (Source: Kisan Adivasi Sangathana, Kesla, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh) ** The Mahato families displaced in 1980 by the Palna Dam in West Singhbhum dam in Bihar are yet to be rehabilitated. (Telegraph 960522) ** The Sikkim state government has invited detailed project proposals from interested private parties for 1200 MW Teesta stage-III hydle project. Those who have shown interest include Reliance industries, Jaiprakash industries, the French state utility Electricite de France, the Canadian state-run utility, Ontario Hydro and a Manipuri NRI group. (Economic Times, 960601) UPDATE ON SOUTH ASIAN DAMS OPPOSITION TO PANCHESWAR DAM IN NEPAL Non-government groups in UP have started a campaign to oppose the proposed 288 mts high Pancheswar dam on Mahakali river on the India-Nepal border. It is feared that a self sufficient economy of the local people on both sides of the border in Pithoragarh dist. in Uttar Pradesh will be destroyed by the proposed dam. (Statesman 960604) The Mahakali river basin agreement, signed during the visit to India by Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in February this year, is hanging fire as it is yet to be ratified by Nepalese Parliament. With this project, India is entering a "developmental process" in Nepal, which would be beneficial to both the countries. (Statesman 960620) ** The Austrian supported Rangjung Hydroelectric project is completed. It is to produce 2.2 MW in summer and 1.1 MW in winter. The Basochu Hydroelectric project to generate 22.2 MW in phase I & 38.6 MW in Phase II, also funded by the Austria is to be completed by 2001. (Kuensel Weekly, Bhutan) ** Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Senator Ilyas Bilour has opposed the construction of Kalabagh dam as "it is not viable for Pakistan." He said govt. should go for small hydel projects to generate electricity as China has done. (Dawn, Pakistan, 960414) UPDATE ON DAMS FROM REST O F THE WORLD THE BAKUN VICTORY The controversial Bakun dam of Malaysia, world's second highest dam under construction and the first such huge dam to be privatised is once again in trouble. On June 19 the Malaysian High Court, in a blow to the government, declared that the $5.5 billion Bakun project's environment clearance was invalid and violative of federal environmental law, namely, section 34A of Environmental Quality Act of 1974. In his 44- page judgment in a suit filed by three of the some ten thousand natives affected by the 2400MW capacity dam, the High Court judge Datuk James Foong declared that the project authorities comply with the Act before they proceed with the project. The Bakun dam is to come up on Balui river in Sarawak state in Malaysia. The dam has for long remained controversial for one reason or the other (See DTE 31.1.96, 15.7.96) and is to submerge 69,000 hectares of rain-forests. Here was a case where a judge sat between three small people and the might of the federal and the state government, a large public corporation and a giant multinational consortium. "The significance of the decision lies in the language and tenor of the judgment, which rings of remarkable independence, impartiality and courage" said Param Cumaraswamy, the United Nations special rapporteur. Foong said that a valid assessment of an Environment Impact Assessment of the project could not be made without proper public participation: "This is essential for interaction between people and their environment is fundamental to the concept of environment impact. For this, a right is vested on the plaintiffs to obtain and be supplied with a copy of the EIA coupled with the right to make representation and be heard." Malaysian NGOs have been campaigning among other things, for getting a copy of the EIA before the project is approved. While this was not done, the judge observed, the Sarawak government "suddenly effects a mortal blow by gazetting the EQA (prescribed Activities) (EIA Amendment) Order 1995" which "in substance and in fact and visible to all, is tantamount to the removal of the entire rights of the plaintiffs to participate and to give their view before the EIA is approved...This court shall not stand idly by to witness such injustice especially when the plaintiffs have turned to this institution to seek redress." Foong said it is relevant and indeed mandatory for the authorities to hear the views of other public first before granting its approval. "It makes a mockery of the whole issue to say that the EIA could be approved first and if the public has any constructive ideas, they could submit late. This certainly is illogical, deprivation of good sense and sound reasoning" he added. On the issue of locus standii, the judge observed, "The plaintiffs may be three of the community of 10,000 but what was fundamental is that they suffered specific and direct damages caused by the Bakun project." Earlier, on 18 April the European Parliament had passed a resolutions calling upon the potential European investors and construction companies to seriously reconsider their involvement in the project given its potentially devastating ecological and social impacts . A campaign has been launched against participation of the ABB (the Swedish/Swiss multinational) consortium-who have been awarded the $5 billion contract- in the project saying among other things that even as both Sweden and Switzerland have long abandoned large-scale hydroelectric projects as environmentally or socially acceptable, the obsolete technology was being dumped on the developing countries by the big dam lobby. This June 19 decision of the Malaysian High Court declaring that the environmental sanction to the 205 meter Bakun dam was invalid both for nonconsultation of the affected people and violation of federal environmental law is noteworthy from more than one point of view. The judgment has once again exposed the tendencies of the governments all over the world to forget about the participation of the people and the environmental laws once these are mentioned in the statute books. By calling these serious lacunas as "technical detail" or "mere formality", the Malaysian Prime Minister has only showed how much respect the rulers give to such basic norms. While this another big dam saga is unfolding in Malaysia, some other recent instances are noteworthy for the same reasons. The World Bank, the major funder to the big dams, is shying away from directly funding such projects for displacement and environmental reasons, but now seems to be doing through backdoors. For example, the credit to the Bank funded Upper Indravati Project was thrice suspended and the loan to the same project was canceled for social and environmental reasons. That project is now given Rs. 320 crores by the Power Finance Corporation, which in turn is funded by the World Bank, among others. Similarly, the Bank is considering funding water supply component of Bisalpur dam in Rajasthan, even as it refuses to fund the dam or take responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of the dam. Following 72 day fast by Shri Sunderlal Bahuguna the new government at center in India has declared another review of the controversial Tehri dam, but it remains to be seen if the review actually materialises, unlike in the past, when the politicians and the bureaucrats succeeded in sabotaging the attempts at review. Similarly, the massacre of hundreds of natives at the World Bank funded Chixoy dam in Guatemala in the early eighties that is now coming to light shows the yawning gaps between the policy and practice of the World Bank. The underlying message from all these instances is that the concern for social and environmental issues expressed by the governments or the bodies like the World Bank notwithstanding, the public pressure on these issues must continue to grow. Whatever decision the Malaysian High Court takes on July 19 regarding two contempt of court appeals or appeal for injunction to stop all construction of the project, or the Appeals Court takes on appeals against the High Court judgment-whose operation, in the meantime has been suspended by the Appeals Court on June 29, the impact of June 19 judgment cannot be wished or washed away by anyone and should be an eye-opener for the proponents of such mega projects all over the world. LAOS TO PUSH HYDROPOWER PROJECTS IN FACE OF OPPOSITION: Laos has decided to push ahead with its massive hydropower projects backed by foreign investors despite criticisms by some groups that such projects displaces people and causes damage to environment. $4.2 billion foreign investment is already licensed in this sector. The most controversial of all Lao hydroelectric projects is the 681 MW $1.1 billion Nam Theun 2 project planned in central Laos. The World Bank, expected to fund this project, has withheld the loan pending an environmental impact study. The electricity produced by the plant is to be largely exported to Thailand. (International Rivers Network) MASSACRE AT WB FUNDED GUATEMALA DAM It seems the World Bank has now woken up to the reality of massacre of hundreds of oustees at the Bank funded Chixoy dam in Guatemala in early eighties. (see DTE-15.6.96) The Bank spokesperson said recently that, "we are not taking this lightly and are looking into the issue." That indeed is a strange statement as this means the Bank did not know what that such a serious thing was happening in the project funded by it. Of course this is not true as the Project Completion Report of the Bank in 1991 did mention about the insurgency in the project area and the delay in the project due to it. The duplicity of the Bank in its operations will be further exposed when the Bank does come out with its findings of its latest investigation. (Source: Inter Press Service) President of the World Bank, in has said on June 18 that he has called for a 'through review' of Bank files on the project and interviews with relevant staff. (International Rivers Network) THREE GORGES DAM In May,-following President Clinton's asking in October that loans or insurance for the US Companies participation in the dam be refused- the US Ex-Im Bank refused to guaranteee loans for American companies that want to sell equipment for the project. Now it's the Export-Import Bank of Japan's turn to decide: to lend or not to lend to companies wanting to bid for the contract for the Three Gorges dam in China. The stakes-- for a consortium of companies that includes Hitachi Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Ltd. -- are enourmous. The main attraction is the project's potential as a gateway to China, a country that could spend as much as a trillion dollors over the next decade on infrastructure such as telecommunications systems, power plants, roads, ports and bridges. (International Rivers Network) ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL DAM IN MALAYSIA: Even as the controversy over the Bakun dam in Malaysia is not yet over, the government has launched feasibility study for second dam on river Kenyir. A number of NGOs including the Consumer Association of Penang have questioned the need for such a dam Meanwhile, Jerome Rousseau, an anthropologist, has come out with a critical book on Bakun dam which he describes as "monument of greed, arrogance and selfishness". He has suggested that the authorities consider building the Murum and Baleh dams which "would have less ecological consequences and affect only a few hundred people and produce 1850 MW of power." . (Source: International Rivers Network) AND NOW AN AMERICAN DAM The most expensive dam in the US history is proposed to be built on the American river in California and is awaiting clearance from the Congress. The Auburn dam is supposedly being built to protect the Sacramento region from floods, that even the dam's proponents say, is likely to occur about once every five centuries. The $1 billion dam is supposed to last just one century. The environmental damages include the destruction of upto 80.45 km of deep, richly forested canyons that provide habitat for wildlife and support recreation for 500,000 people a year. The proponents argue that the dam would save US $16 billion in future flood damage costs. (Down to Earth 960715) ** Sweden and Switzerland have long abandoned large-scale hydroelectric projects as environmentally or socially acceptable forms of electricity generation. Widespread public opposition to dams in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway has stopped construction of all but the smallest projects. Sweden's 1987 Natural Resources Act prohibits any hydropower exploitation of the country's last four free-flowing rivers-the Torne, Kalix, Pite and Vindel. In Norway, the Alta dam was only built on condition that it would be the last of its kind. In France, the government has scrapped plans to build the Franklin Dam have long been abandoned. (Letter from the Berne Declaration and the Ecologist to ABB consortium 960701) WORLD BANK, INTERNATIONAL AID NEW WORLD BANK LOANS: According to the latest monthly operational summary report-dated May 1996-from the World Bank, following projects have been added-related to water resources- among the projects under process: I. Punjab Water Resources Management Project: This project-for which IDA is provide $71 million- is to improve the efficiency of water resources management across all uses, support the upgrade and new construction of water supply and sanitation schemes covering about 600 villages, provide support to Public Health Engineering Department and promotion of hygiene education. Appraisal of the project is scheduled(tentatively) for Sept. 1996 and Negotiations (tentatively) for Dec. 1996. II Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance ($50 million IDA aid): This Ministry of Environmental Management project for strengthening environmental planning, policy formulation and implementation is to bring together all elements of an effective environmental management system in one state, Gujarat. Appraisal Mission of the project is already expected to have completed work. ** The latest Monthly Operational Survey report of the World Bank, includes a very interesting amendment in the previous report regarding the Third Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Project (appraisal mission work is expected to be completed by now), namely that the components of the project is to now include, "retrospective rehabilitation of persons affected by a previous project. The MOS does not mention this project. CONTRADICTIONS IN REPORT ON ORISSA POWER PROJECT The World Bank's Staff Appraisal Report (SAR) of the Orissa Power Sector Restructuring Project (OPSRP) dated April 19, 1996 seems to be a bundle of contradictions. Most importantly, the SAR does mention that the Bank had to cancel its loan and thrice suspend its earlier Credit to the controversial 600 MW Upper Indravati Hydro-Electric Project for reasons including inadequate resettlement and rehabilitation of the people affected by the project(p13 and Annex 5.3 of SAR). The SAR goes on to say that (page 30), "Further support for Upper Indravati's environmental and R&R aspects is proposed to be provided under the proposed project." But the SAR fails to mention what R&R policy will be followed for Upper Indravati's oustees, nor does it mention what changes are effected so that the past experiences are not repeated. As a matter of fact, the SAR does not even mention how many people are going to be affected by the project, nor what are the R&R plans for the affected people. Very significantly, the decision to fund this large dam underlines Bank's failure to learn from its past mistakes in funding large dams. There are a number of other contradictions in the SAR. For example, contrary to the above quotes, page 19 and Annex 3.3 says that, "There will be no resettlement involved in the above projects." It is well known that the Upper Indravati Project involves very large displacement. To get over the problem, the Bank seems to have found a via media, in the sense that the UIP is now being funded through a Rs 320 crore from the Power Finance Corporation which in turn is funded by the World Bank(p 4 of SAR), among others. Even about the R&R policy and plans, there are contradictions. For example, while Project Appraisal Criteria mentions (Annex 4.4) that a R&R plan "... satisfactory to the Bank, shall have been prepared", a letter from the principal secretary to the Govt. of Orissa(Annex 2.2), prepared, as the letter says, "in response to a request by the World Bank for the Government of Orissa to reconfirm its power sector reform policies at the time of negotiations of a proposed loan for the Orissa Power Sector Restructuring Project", says that the power projects will be implemented in accordance with the state and national R&R policies. But there is no state or national R&R policies that would satisfy the Bank's Appraisal Criteria. CANADIAN AID FOR POOYAMKUTTY The new LF government is Kerala have secured a Canadian promise of finance for building a series of dams over the Pooyamkutty submerging some 6000 Ha of dense rain forests in the last stretches of the green southern Western Ghats in Idukki district. The 250 MW project on the Pooyamkutty, a tributary of the river Periyar, is facing strong opposition from the environmentalists and has been in limbo for over a decade. Besides the damage to wildlife, the project will imperil the livelihood of some 3 lakh bamboo workers who depend on the reeds extracted from the area. PH Vaidyanathan, former secretary of Central Board of Irrigation has drawn out an alternative scheme of exploiting river sources of Kerala. Kerala, blessed with 44 rivers and their 160 tributaries, could very well set up mini-hydel projects to produce over 60,000 mega unit a day during rainy days. (TOI 960605, Newsline 960606) WB LAUNCHES RESEARCH INTO GREEN REVOLUTION AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH ASIA In recent years there has been much concern about productivity, growth and sustainability in the irrigated systems of Indo-Gangetic Plains of northern India and Pakistan. Greater inputs appears to yield low marginal returns. And intesification of cropping apparently has lead in some cases to salinisation, lower of water table and degradation of soil. Another research proposal that is under preparation stage is about "International Fresh Water Disputes and Conflict Resolutions: An Integrated Approach." (WB Policy & Res. Bulletin, Vol.7, No.1) ** OECF of Japan has sanctioned Rs. 550 crore for completion of modernisation of Kurnool-Cuddapah canal and to complete Sunkesula anicut and Alaganur balancing reservoir. (Newstime, 960616) ** Phase I of of the World Bank funded National Water Management Project closed on 31.3.95. Modalities of Phase II are being worked out. (Bhagirath, Vol. 42, No. 2-3) ** The Rajasthan state government had sought financial assistance from the World Bank for Rs. 617 Crore Bisalpur water project which would cater to drinking water needs of Jaipur. The talks with the World Bank were in advance stage and the project was being reviewed by a french consultancy. (Hindu 960611) ** The public sector company water & power consultancy services (WAPCOS) have been given Rs 1.2 crore consultancy contract for the World Bank aided Punjab Rural Water Supply & Environment Sanitation Project to cover 260 villages in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Ropar districts. (Business and Political Observer, 960604) ** OECF-Japan is giving Y34 billion for the 280 MW Dhauliganga hydle power project being built by NHPC in Pithoragarh district in Uttar Pradesh. (Business Standard 960608) ** Government of Madhya Pradesh would seek a loan of Rs. 2000 crores from the World Bank for completing different major and medium irrigation projects. (Madhya Pradesh Chronicle 960611) COURT NEWS SC ACTION ON GROUNDWATER REGULATION The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices Kuldip Singh and Faizanuddin has sent notices to Union of India and Government of Delhi for regulation of groundwater. A public interest petition by Mr. M.C.Mehta contended that due to indiscriminate digging of pumping of groundwater, the water table has gone down drastically and saline water was now trickling into the water table. At present no permission is required in India to dig a well when all over the world, government permission is necessary. An affidavit by the Central Ground Water Board said that enhanced pumping particularly by the farm houses in and around Delhi has lead to a serious and critical condition where water is available now only at depths of 48 mts. (The Hindu 960516) COURT NEWS ON POLLUTION TAMIL NADU TANNERIES TROUBLE: Tanneries in Tamil Nadu are still unable to put up proper common effluent treatment plants. The leather industry that exports Rs. 6000 crores of products is unable to mobilise resources for putting up the required 30 CETPs, of which 7 are operational and 10 are under construction. They are complaining that the standards of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (BOD = 30 ppm, COD = 120 ppm, TDS = 2500 ppm) are too stringent. The tanneries have been closed following Supreme Court ruling earlier this year. The first PIL in the matter was filed in 1980 by the Vellore Citizen's Forum. (FE 960616) PUBLICATIONS ON WATER THAR: SECRETS OF THE DESERT, VHS (PAL), Colour, 52 mins, Hindi, Directed by Sanjeev Shah, 1995. The CSE film is about the management of rain water by the people of the Thar desert. It takes us to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan which had a highly evolved system of water collection, created to harvest and store rainwater, including network of dugwells, rivers, ponds and step wells. It also takes us to Jodhpur in Rajasthan which boasted of an intricate system of 150 surface lakes and canals, which were built for harvesting rainwater 800 years ago. This finely evolved equilibrium between the people and their environment was destabilised, ironically by the laying of the Rajasthan canal. (DTE 960715) HARVEST OF RAIN, VHS (PAL), colour, 48 mins, English, Directed by Sanjay Kak, 1995. This CSE film's main thrust is the near destruction of traditional methods of storing water as a result of increasing governmental interference. The film explains that even though water is found in streams, rivers and dams, the main source remains the traditional one, rainwater. The film takes us to Rajasthan, rice growing area of Karnataka and the Kumaon region of Uttar Pradesh. (DTE 960715) ** Water institutions in India: economics, law and policy is authored by Dr. R Maria Slaeth of Institute of Economic Growth (Delhi School of Economics). The book was released at a function in Delhi in June. (Madhya Pradesh Chronicle, 960611) ** The Nov. 1995 issue of The New Internationalist focuses on rivers. Vol. 4, No. 2, 1995 of People & the Planet is dedicated to articles on Troubled Waters: lakes and inland seas. (WLI news July 1996) FORTHCOMING EVENTS SIXTH STOCKHOLM WATER SYMPOSIUM, 4-9 August 1996. Organised by the Stockholm Water Company, at Stockholm, Sweden. The Symposium and the Stockholm Water Prize have been instituted to focus the world's attention on the rapid deterioration of global water resources, to analyze the problems and to suggest means of overcoming them. The aim of the symposia is to serve as a bridge between practice, science, policy making, and decision taking in the search for effective, long-term, water resources management. This year the focus of the seminar is On Safeguarding Water Resources for Tomorrow: New Solutions to Old Problems. The sectoral policies that influence priorities in water resources activities are based on sectoral self-interests, directed towards goals other than sound water resources management. Much attention must therefore be given to education, since it establishes the perceptions of tomorrow's generation. The way in which water issues are taught in schools will shape the way that water is managed in the future. Interestingly, at least twelve of the listed papers are by people from India. A seminar "The Last Drop: Ethics in Water Management" will also be held on 7-8 Aug. (Stockholm Water Front, June 1996, second announcement of the symposium, 960703) The 1996 Stockholm Water Prize is awarded to Dr. Jorg Imberger from Australia. He receives the Prize for creating a computerised predictive analysis model correlating water motion research with biochemical data. FIRST MEETING OF THE GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP is to be held on August 9, immediately following the SWS in Stockholm under the chairmanship of Ismail Serageldin, Vice President of the World Bank. The main task of the GWP is "to bring about more sustainable patterns of water use in developing countries". (Why not the developed countries?) The Partnership will bring together various stakeholders to encourage them to adopt consistent and mutually complementary policies. It will seek to build mechanisms for sharing information and experiences on water use. The Partnership has a technical advisory committee which is to develop a set of criteria for sustainable water use to guide Partnership members. (Stockholm Water Front, June 1996) ** The 7th International Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes will be held at San Martin de los Andes, Argentina. The 6th conference was held in Japan in Oct. 1995. (WLI news July 1996) ** The first regional conference on the implementation of the UN convention to combat desertification in Asia is to be held in Delhi between 21-23 Aug. '96. A SPECIAL REPORT: COMPLETE ANARCHY IN GUJARAT ON POLLUTION CONTROL:There seems to be almost complete anarchy in pollution control scene in Gujarat with utter lack of coordination between the different agencies including Gujarat Pollution Control Board(GPCB), Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation(GIDC), Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board(GWSSB) and the Government of Gujarat(GOG). A series of interviews by DTE reveals that the different agencies seem to have little or no effective communication between them, leave aside the question of coordination in action. In a state that is at the forefront of industrialisation, such a scene can only lead to very serious and irreversible destruction of natural resources. Already, thousands of industries have been operating without any effluent treatment for decades. The most important instance of this is the policy regarding providing Common Effluent Treatment Plants(CETP) at the industrial estates of GIDC. As per the norms accepted in Gujarat, since the small scale industries-those using less than 20 KLD(Kiloliters per day) water-in the GIDC estates cannot afford to have secondary treatment facilities, they were supposed to have only the primary treatment facilities and the secondary treatment facilities were to be provided at the CETPs to be constructed by the GIDC at the respective industrial estates. This was stated by both the Shri K.D.Rathod, member-secretary to GPCB and Shri P.R.Gharekhan, former member-secretary of CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). But K.B.Bhagat, deputy Chief Engineer of GIDC differed, "It is not the duty of GIDC, it was not its duty at any stage, to provide CETPs. No other IDC in any other state including Maharashtra has taken up this responsibility. Even then in about 1990 we decided to take up this responsibility. As a matter of fact, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests warned us that we should not get into this business. It is the responsibility of the industries." This utter lack of agreement on the policy level as to who should be responsible for setting up necessary effluent treatment facilities has meant that thousands of industries have been operating merrily for decades at over 180 industrial estates in Gujarat without even existence of basic effluent treatment facilities. Only one industrial estate in Gujarat, namely Nandesari near Baroda has a CETP which too, as Gujarat High Court observed, has not been operating satisfactorily. And nobody is there to even monitor this gross violation or punish the offenders. When Bhagat was questioned that this means that the industrial estates were being set up and functioning all over the state without even physical existence of minimum treatment facilities, he agreed. However, he went to say that CETP is not the solution. GIDC sees CETP-which is today being adopted all over the country under World Bank funding projects as the only solution for SSIs- as an impractical proposition. Says Bhagat, "If the industries do not do primary treatment, which is their minimum duty, CETP can just not function." K.D.Rathod, member-secretary of GPCB defends that the Board does not have adequate powers: "Gujarat is the only state in the country that has not ratified and implemented the 1988 amendments to the Water Pollution Act(1974). That is a big handicap as the amendments give much stronger power to the State Pollution Control Board, including section 33A-giving power to issue directions, ordering closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process and directions regarding stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity, water, or any other service-among other sections. Why is nobody raising these issue?" Further, Rathod complains, "We do not have powers to order closure of offending units under of the Environment Protection Act(1986) section 5. The powers lie with the Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Gujarat. We can at the most make recommendations. Whether to take action or not is upto the GOG." When asked in how many cases the Board made such recommendations, the then member secretary of the Board B.F.Salunia had told DTE, "We have made such recommendations in scores of cases. Ask DEF in how many cases they acted. I do not want to comment on that." Rathod of GPCB had another complaint, "Gujarat is the only state where the Water Supply and Sewerage Board does not allow us to release effluents into their channels. There can be only one body for drainage channels. This limitation is a great handicap for us. Why no one is raising this issue?" Singala, Executive Engineer of GWSSB agreed that they cannot allow that, implying thereby that the GPCB's track record wasn't good enough to allow that. But GIDC, who should share equal if not greater blame for the dismal state of affairs at the industrial estates, is strangely, very critical of GPCB. Says Bhagat, "There seems to be utter lack of will on the part of GPCB to act against the offending units. It is important to note that there are very few industries in the chemical category who can operate with less than 20-25 KLD of water. GPCB could not have granted them NOC or consent on the basis of CETP. If we had the mechanism and efficiency to monitor the operation of all such units, the position today would have been totally different. But even today the effluents of the industries are acidic. In such a situation even existence of CETP, which is largely biological treatment, would be useless as the bacteria would be killed by the acidic effluents, and regeneration of the bacteria will take another three months. Thus CETP is not the solution. After setting up of CETP, the situation will be worse. People are only buying time in recommending CETP. If you look at the operation of CETPs, you will see that they are not successful anywhere. Pollution control has to be at the unit level." Bhagat was also critical of lack of continuing monitoring on the part of GPCB. He said even after a consent is given to a particular industry, GPCB should monitor if the industry is producing the same products and at the same capacity. For example, an industry may get consent for non polluting unit, but may change over to polluting unit. If there is no continuous monitoring, this can lead to rather serious violation of pollution norms. Coming as it does from a senior officer of GIDC, this comment have ominous implications indeed. That rather strong criticism of GPCB on the part of GIDC is possibly an attempt to hide its own failures. And these are quite bewildering. For example, For almost two decades, the industries in Ankleshwar industrial estate were functioning without drainage connections, which is the responsibility of GIDC. Bhagat accepted this delay and attributed the same to some difficulties. But the consequence of this grave lapse is that the Ankleshwar industries have been releasing effluents on open grounds creating all round nuisance and pollution. Also, for over two decades now, the untreated effluents from Ankleshwar and Panoli industries are being released into Amlakhadi, a tributary of Narmada.(DTE 31 Oct. 1996) A report by CPCB found in 1995 that lands and groundwater of a number of villages around this tributary are polluted as a consequence. GIDC did not even bother to desilt this tributary for two decades, due to which the effluent flooded the lands of these villages in monsoon and at the time of high tides. Another instance of lack of coordination is about release of effluents into Narmada river. In late 1995, people of Bharuch district discovered that GIDC had started constructing effluent channel for releasing effluents from the Vagra industrial estate into Narmada river. When Narmada Pradushan Nivaran Samity protested that such an action will destroy the river Narmada and stopped its construction physically, they discovered that GIDC was constructing the channel without approval from GPCB. When questioned by DTE, Bhagat of GIDC said that they assumed that they will get the approval in the course of time. This exemplifies that even GIDC is to be equally blamed for breach of law. This leads to another anomaly. National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had recommended in 1991 for the upcoming Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) complex at Dahej that the effluents should not be released in Narmada river or estuary but into sea as, "Narmada river has tidal influence hence, there could be buildup of refractory or recalcitrant pollutants instead of wide dispersion and dilution. It is felt that discharge of treated effluent is Narmada river should not be practiced and therefore, a proposal is made for discharging in nearly Arabian sea." Even Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, while granting conditional NOC to IPCL in 1989 made one of the conditions that effluents must be released into sea. National Institute of Oceanography study in 1994 concluded that IPCL must release its effluents some 2 to 4 kms into the sea. And yet, in 1994, GPCB granted approval to GIDC to allow its 78 MLD (million liters per day) effluents into the river Narmada at Haripura village. It was the agitation by the Narmada Pradushan Nivaran Samity that lead to stoppage of that work and handing over the study of effluent release from Jhagadia industrial estate into sea to NEERI. When questioned, Rathod of GPCB said that now they are reviewing that decision of allowing release of Jhagadia GIDC effluents into sea. Similarly, some other disturbing questions are, before giving consent for release of Jhagadia GIDC effluents into Narmada and before beginning the construction of Vagra GIDC effluent pipelines into Narmada, was the fisheries directorate in Bharuch consulted? It was revealing that at the meeting called by the Bharuch collector earlier this year, following people's protest to these moves, Bharuch fisheries directorate strongly protested narrating how the lucrative export oriented estuarine fisheries would be destroyed if the effluents are released into Narmada river or estuary as the GIDC & GPCB chose to call it. Yet another point of complete lack of coordination among the different agencies is the permission given by the GPCB to release effluents of the Rajshree Polyfibres Limited, a Rs. 500 crore Birla group company coming up at Umalla village in Jhagadia taluka in Bharuch district into the river Narmada at village Navara. Downstream of that point, there are a number of jackwells through which GIDC, IPCL, GWSSB, NTPC, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Gujarat Alkalis and Chemicals Ltd., Gujarat Narmada-valley Fertiliser Corp., etc. are lifting water for their requirements. It was the protest of the local people that lead to stoppage of construction of pipelines and "review of that decision by GPCB" as Rathod told DTE. But did GIDC, who is to lift 78 MLD water for its Jhagadia estate and 36 MLD water for its Vagra estate know about this move? Did GWSSB, who is lifting 32 MLD water for the villages in Bharuch district know about this ? Both were shocked to learn of such an approval and did not know about the same. Had Narmada Pradushan Nivaran Samity not intervened and physically stopped the construction of effluent pipeline, the agencies would have possibly woken up after its water supplies would have been contaminated. Bhagat was critical of GPCB here also,"What coordination is required to take the decision if the industrial effluents should be allowed to be released in the river at point upstream from where others are lifting water for drinking water and industrial water supply? How can GPCB claim that it is not aware that water is being lifted from Narmada?" In this scene of anarchy in a state that is boosting of attracting new industrial investment of over 1,00,000 crores, the future is going to be worse than disastrous. Its only the pressure from the people that can bring about some changes in this scenario, as the Narmada Pradushan Nivaran Samity has shown in Bharuch. How effective or lasting these changes will be, only time will decide. National Environment Advocacy Cell, Centre for Science and Environment 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, (Near Batra Hospital), New Delhi-110 062. Phones: 6981110, 6981124,6986399, 6983394. Fax: 6985879, Email: csedel@cse.unv.ernet.in 25 From irn@irn.org Fri Jul 19 17:51:00 1996 Received: from nacho.cs.wisc.edu (nacho.cs.wisc.edu [128.105.66.15]) by sea.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id RAA20267 for ; Fri, 19 Jul 1996 17:50:36 -0500 Received: from igc7.igc.org (igc7.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.35]) by nacho.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id RAA18606 for ; Fri, 19 Jul 1996 17:50:33 -0500 Received: from igc4.igc.apc.org (igc4.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.37]) by igc7.igc.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) with ESMTP id PAA11734; Fri, 19 Jul 1996 15:32:55 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from irn) by igc4.igc.apc.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id PAA07896; Fri, 19 Jul 1996 15:26:29 -0700 (PDT) Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 15:26:29 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <199607192226.PAA07896@igc4.igc.apc.org> From: International Rivers Network To: 0005614754@mcimail.com, ae140@traverse.lib.mi.us, appa@uk.ac.lse.vax, ashah@dc.asce.org, budaraju@cae.wisc.edu, ecologist@inbb.gn.apc.org, jagdish@igc.org, kamal@imsc.ernet.in, L.Mehta@sussex.ac.uk, narmada@nacho.cs.wisc.edu, pchatterjee@igc.org, poddar.seva@axcess.net.in, ss@ce.ic.ac.uk Subject: narmada urgent action alert Cc: bicusa@igc.org, bruce@edf.org, cfuv@cynic.NS.UVic.Ca, cielus@igc.org, csc@web.apc.org, deb@edf.org, dgap@igc.org, earthfirst@igc.org, earthisland@igc.org, hrwatchdc@igc.org, iatp@igc.org, jbarnes@igc.org, jgershman@igc.org, mimi@edf.org, nrdcint@igc.org, nwfip@igc.org, olammers@igc.org, perc@igc.org, pistaff@igc.org, ssrobinson@igc.org, wild@edf.org, worldwatch@igc.org >From evb@access.ch Thu Jul 18 03:22:37 1996 From: evb@access.ch (Erklaerung von Bern) and patrick @irn.org (International Rivers Network) Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE NBA Dear friends, An outrageous decision has been taken regarding Narmada. Attached is an urgent action alert from the NBA. Many thanks, Peter Bosshard Berne Declaration and Patrick McCully International Rivers Network >From : Mr. Shripad Dharmadikary, NBA, Baroda, via Berne Declaration, Switzerland Dear friends, ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT The four party states to the Sardar Sarovar Project and the Central Government of India yesterday (16 July) reached an agreement to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam to 436(132.9 m) feet. This has horrendous implications, and will result in the further displacement of 10-15,000 families. It may be recalled that the work on the dam has been at a standstill at 80.3 m since last year and half. The Supreme Court had put a stay on further construction, and had rejected the vehement demand of the Gujarat Government to allow it to raise the height by at least 10 m. This was disallowed as the Government was not able to show how the people affected even by the 10 m increase could be resettled. Further, the Government of Madhya Pradesh was arguing that the final height of the dam should be reduced to 436 ft from the planned 455 (138.7 m) as it was becoming impossible for it to resettle the affected people. Gujarat Government was strongly opposing any such change in the project. Further, it wanted permission to raise immediately the height of the dam to 360 ft (110 m) from the 80.3 m where it was stalled. M.P. had been consistently opposing this, or even a smaller increase in height as it said there was no land to resettle the oustees. On 12 March, during the last hearing of the case filed by the Narmada Bachao Andolan , the Supreme court had ordered the party states to first resolve their dispute and then come to the Court. Only after this would the Court start once again to hear NBAs arguments. The states were to report to the Court on 16 July 1996. The four Chief Ministers met on 5 July but could not resolve differences. They met again on the 15 July, on the eve of the hearing. This time, the Prime Minster was also present. However, the meeting too was inconclusive. The meeting then continued on the next day, even as the Supreme Court took up the hearing of the case. Obviously, the Governments had nothing to report. The Attorney General of India told the Supreme Court that the Governments were meeting even as the hearing was on, and requested more time, The Court told the Governments to report on their resolution of dispute on 7 Aug. 1996, when the case will once again be heard. Within an hour of this, however, the meeting of the PM and CMs had concluded and had come to an agreement that can only be described as the betrayal of the people of the country. Once again, the powers that be that bowed down to political expediency. The Governments agreed that the basic design of the dam would not change and its height would remain at 455 ft. The dam height would now be raised all the way up to 436 feet, and a pause would be taken for 5 years. The hydrological inflow would be studied for these 5 years, and a decision to raise the height upto 455 feet would then be taken. Thus, none of the fundamental issues raised by the people or even by M.P. Government have been even considered. Only the hydrological point was looked at - and even that seems to be a cover up as sufficient length of hydrological data already exists, and 5 years is not going to be make any difference. The key issue, the basis on which even the Government of M.P. was demanding lowering of height - i.e. the issue of displacement of thousands of people - was hardly even discussed. A vehement appeal by Mr. Ramuwalia, Minister for Social Welfare that the R&R SubGroup of the Narmada Control Authority (which falls under his ministry and monitors the R&R ) had clearly stated that no construction should be allowed as resettlement had not been done, was simple ignored. Government of M.P. did a complete volte face and agreed to this proposal. The Central Government also ignored its own ministry of Environment, which maintains that the clearance given by it to the project stands lapsed. It also ignored the report of the Independent Review committee that it had itself set up in 1993 (Jayant Patil Committee) which has raised very fundamental problems about the project. Significantly, there was no attempt whatsoever to even remotely involve the affected people or the Narmada Bachao Andolan in the process of this agreement. The Narmada Bachao Andolan has of course rejected totally this anti-people anti-tribal agreement and has declared its resolve to intensify its fight. An action program will be soon announced after consultation in the Valley. The implications of this proposal are horrendous. Even as Gujarat Government was appealing for raising the height only to 360 feet, permission has now been given to go upto 436 feet. This is when even those outees below 80.3 m (263.3 ft) , who have been displaced over 8-10 years ago, are finding it so difficult to survive at the resettlement sties that they are abandoning them and returning to their original villages. With he decision to go up to 436 feet, at least 10-15,000 families could face displacement within a year. There is of course, no hope of resettlement. A grave violation of human rights of these people lies only a few months ahead. Now only two hurdles remain. One is that the stay by the Supreme Court continues and can be reviewed only on 7 Aug. at the earliest. Secondly, the Gujarat Government has to wait till the monsoons end to start construction, which will be in October end. Immediate Reactions Can Still Change Decision There is some hope, however, that if sufficient pressure can be built up, the decision could be reviewed. This is so because the agreement so far is only oral, and the written agreement is being drafted. This may be signed in next 3-4 days. However, if there is enough national and international pressure, it could be reviewed. International pressure will be critical to this. We therefore appeal to all the international supporters to write/fax letters to the Prime Minster of India and the Chief Minster of Madhya Pradesh immediately, expressing shock at the decision to subject so many people to submergence without even discussing the rehabilitation or other fundamental issues raised by them. The letters should call for a immediate review of this decision, and ask to scarp SSP and taking up the alternatives. A similar letter to the chief minister of M.P. can also convey surprise at the about turn of the Government from its earlier stand of calling for a reduction of height of the dam. The letters should convey full support to the NBAs action program. A copy of the letter to NBA would be appreciated. (Letters can be continued even upto August first week) Shri H.D. Deve Gowda Shri Digvijay Singh Prime Minster Chief Minster Government of India Government of Madhya Pradesh 7 Race Course Road Shyamala Hills N.Delhi India Bhopal (M.P.) India Fax: +91-11- 301 3005 / 301 9817 / 301 6857 Fax: +91-755-540 501 For further information: Narmada Bachao Andolan, att. Shripad Dharmadikary, e-mail ACE.NATURAL@SM1.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in, phone +91 265 340 168, fax +91 265 330 430 (att. NBA 340 168) From mathew@genius.rider.edu Sat Jul 20 13:07:29 1996 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu (lucy.cs.wisc.edu [128.105.2.11]) by sea.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id NAA28522 for ; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 13:07:23 -0500 Received: from GENIUS.rider.edu (genius.rider.edu [192.107.45.5]) by lucy.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id NAA05043 for ; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 13:07:21 -0500 Received: from genius.rider.edu by genius.rider.edu (PMDF V5.0-4 #15764) id <01I7AR8RM2FS8ZETUS@genius.rider.edu>; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:05:59 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:05:59 -0500 (EST) From: mathew@genius.rider.edu Subject: Re: SSP Decision - Action Appeal - PM's fax - one number doesnt work To: narmada@cs.wisc.edu, irn@irn.org Message-id: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:02:30 -0500 (EST) From: mathew@genius.rider.edu To: aip , FOIL , Subject: Re: SSP Decision - Action Appeal - PM's fax Of the fax numbers enclosed with the last message appealing to all to send faxes to the PM of India and CM of MP,one of them doesn't work. The first number listed 91-11-3013005 just rings and doesn't connect to a fax. the second one (91-11-3019817) works. I didn't have a chance to try the third number listed for the PM. The Digvijay Singh (CM of MP) number worked fine. Biju From mathew@genius.rider.edu Sat Jul 20 13:24:15 1996 Received: from lucy.cs.wisc.edu (lucy.cs.wisc.edu [128.105.2.11]) by sea.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id NAA28671 for ; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 13:24:11 -0500 Received: from GENIUS.rider.edu (genius.rider.edu [192.107.45.5]) by lucy.cs.wisc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id NAA05138 for ; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 13:24:09 -0500 Received: from genius.rider.edu by genius.rider.edu (PMDF V5.0-4 #15764) id <01I7ARTJJV4W8ZEW1G@genius.rider.edu>; Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:22:45 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:22:44 -0500 (EST) From: mathew@genius.rider.edu Subject: Model Letters to PM and CM - SSP Action Appeal - Pls. Modify To: aip , narmada , mathew Message-id: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Folks, here are the copies of the two letters I just sent off. Pls. use if you want to. Modify as required. Its better to send original leters than form ones I presume. Also, I wrote these in a hurry so I am sure better letters could be written. Biju ----------------------Copies of letters sent----------------------- The Prime Minister of India July 19, 1996 Shri H. D. Deve Gowda New Delhi, India Dear Sir, I am writing this note with a deep sense of anguish on hearing about the agreement reached by the central government and four state governments on the Sardar Sarovar Project. This agreement to raise the height of the dam in spite of the enormous opposition to the idea from the underprivileged and downtrodden sections of our country is an unjustifiable one. I would urge you personally, and the UF government as a whole, to reconsider the decision before signing any joint agreement with the States and presenting your arguments before the Supreme Court on 7th August. The UF government emerged as the hope for the poorer and underprivileged sections of our country this summer against both the communal BJP or the anti-people Congress party. The Common Minimum Program and the tying together of the NF with regional parties is indeed a remarkable experiment in India today which I am sure the less fortunate sections of our society look towards with hope. However, this decision of the government gives us reason to be fearful - that this government too will go the way previous governments have - speaking of social justice and then sacrificing the ideal at the behest of the elites of the country. The anti-SSP fight has been for eight years now an important struggle on which many ideas about what a party or a government really means to the people has been gauged. Many of us here in the United States and Canada who have actively supported the your center-left formation on the hope that it will be the government that will be concerned about peoples welfare will definitely need to reassess our response. In the past few weeks we have actively campaigned to ensure adequate and favourable representation of your government in the North American media. We stand today feeling betrayed by your decision to allow an anti-people dam to be constructed without any thought to the R&R infrastructure that is almost non-existent. Even as I received news of the agreement I also heard that 400 families that had earlier accepted the Gujarat governments R&R plan have decided to return because of the abysmal failure to deliver even the minimum of the facilities promised. Under such circumstances, how could a people oriented government such as yours justify such a decision as the one you have just become party to? Once again, I urge you to reconsider your decision before the agreement is formally signed and the Supreme Court hearing begins. Yours sincerely, Biju Mathew (Biju Mathew) Asst. Professor of Business Rider University The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh July 19, 1996 Shri Digvijay Singh Bhopal, India Dear Sir, I am writing this note with a deep sense of anguish on hearing about the agreement reached by your state government with the other three state governments and the central government on the Sardar Sarovar Project. This agreement to raise the height of the dam in spite of the enormous opposition to the idea from the underprivileged and downtrodden sections of our country is an unjustifiable one. I would urge you personally, and the your government as a whole, to reconsider the decision before signing any joint agreement and presenting your arguments before the Supreme Court on 7th August. The MP congress government, we all remember, is a government that was formed in spite of an anti-congress sentiment that was sweeping the country over the past three years - primarily because under your leadership it was thought that some hope still lay for the poorer and underprivileged sections of our country. However, this decision of the government gives us reason to be fearful - that this government too will go the way previous congress governments have - speaking of social justice and then sacrificing the ideal at the behest of the elites of the country. The anti-SSP fight has been for eight years now an important struggle on which many ideas about what a party or a government really means to the people has been gauged. In the past your position of being concerned about the oustees rather than the benefits to the elite sections of the country has been much appreciated. Many of us here in the United States and Canada who have actively supported the your position on the dam for the past year or more. We stand today feeling betrayed by your decision to allow an anti-people dam to be constructed without any thought to the R&R infrastructure that is almost non-existent. Even as I received news of the agreement I also heard that 400 families that had earlier accepted the Gujarat governments R&R plan have decided to return because of the abysmal failure to deliver even the minimum of the facilities promised. Under such circumstances, how could a people oriented government such as yours justify a decision like the one you have just become party to? Once again, I urge you to reconsider your decision before the agreement is formally signed and the Supreme Court hearing begins. Yours sincerely, Biju Mathew (Biju Mathew) Asst. Professor of Business Rider University