NBA activists ready to face submergence in Narmada waters

With downpour continuing in the catchment area and upstream of the Sardar Sarovar Project, the Narmada Bachao Andolan has warned that an alarming rate of rise in water levels in Narmada could result into floods.

Release of 36,000 cusecs of water from Awa dam, situated in the upstream of the river could cause devastation, NBA activist Sukumar claimed in a press release on Sunday.

The water may rise even further as there are heavy rains in the submergence area and in the upstream of Narmada, he claimed. The NBA activist Medha Patkar and others are firm on their stand to face the rising waters, the release claimed. The statement said the 101 m high dam has caused the unjust submergence.

"But as the monsoon brings heavy rainfall in the catchment area, there is every possibility of more submergence and devastation including the Nimad villages. In Madhya Pradesh about 65,000 families and 70 villages would be affected due to the dam’s height.

Also, in Maharashtra, the recently finished ‘task force’s’ study has categorically stated that at least 1,000 families yet to be rehabilitated below 95 meters height of the dam and the number may increase," the release stated.

NBA condemned the callous, irresponsible and inhuman attitude of all the state governments for causing unjust submergence.

Republished from The Asian Age