Submerged Hopes

‘No big dams’ is one ofthe NBA e-mail addresses that faithfully sends out messages and news ofdam-related struggles. And yet, the dam is a fait accompli now, which meanstaking the ‘no dam’ position is no longer possible. The hungerstrike in Madhya Pradesh by four NBA activists relates to the basic issues ofcompensation, rehabilitation and survival. As the Maan dam strike entersits 29th day, and the waters of the Narmada tributary begin to drive people outof their homes, the issue continues to be hotly contested. What is at stakealong with people’s lives and livelihood are the larger critical issues ofthe democratic functioning of a state, and the credibility of a government (andits leader) that has built up an image of being committed to participatorydemocracy. In April 2002, a public hearing was held in Dhar district onthe Maan dam issue conducted by the Indian People’s Tribunal (IPT). Thepanel was headed by Justice Loney, a former high court judge. The MP governmentwas invited, but refused to attend.May 8, 2002 — a Jan Sunwai heldin Bhopal on the Maheshwar dam issue looked at questions of the use and misuseof public finance, power reform and rehabilitation in the first dam to be builtby a private company in Madhya Pradesh. The government and the heads of allconcerned agencies were invited. Not a single official of the MP government orits agencies dealing with the dam attended.May 27th — a publichearing was held on fishing rights in the Tawa dam reservoir. This hearingfocused on a rare and extraordinary success story of a fishing co-operative onthe dam reservoir, which had ensured that at least some of the fruits of the damhad gone to poor communities, and those displaced. The public hearing waswarranted by tension built up at the time of the renewal of the fishing contractwhen it seemed that there were claims and counter-claims about the basis forrenewal of the contract. Here again, the government and its agencies boycottedthe hearing. What is to be done when the government refuses even to attendsuch public hearings? They provide an opportunity for public dialogue andfeedback. By participating, the government not only shows its respect forpeople’s voices and people’s platforms but can perhaps even begin toforge a breakthrough on issues which have reached an impasse. In the Maan damissue, for instance, the opportunity should have been used to try and work out asolution before it reached the current crisis. By non-participation, ademocratic government is cutting off its avenues for understandingpeople’s perceptions, dialogue and conflict resolution.All threeorganising bodies of the different public hearings issued press notes, heldpress conferences and prepared reports based on the evidence placed before them.They have recorded their unhappiness with the government’snon-participation. And they have once again stressed the importance of thegovernment answering questions raised by affected people in an open publicforum. Representatives of local peoples organisations claim that the reason thegovernment does not attend these hearings is that it has no answers. If that isthe case, then there is an even bigger burden on all of us to ensure that thetruth comes out, and that the government be forced into following principles oftransparent and accountable decision-making.The Madhya Pradesh governmenthas nurtured an image of being progressive and committed to issues of socialjustice, democracy and participation. Chief minister Digvijay Singh has beenhailed on several occasions for his commitment to green issues, democraticdecentralisation and concern for the marginalised. Several policy announcementsand legal provisions helped sustain this progressive image. However, it is bythe deeds of a government that it will be eventually evaluated. As competinginterests fight it out for meagre resources, Mr Singh will have to take sides,and his decisions will have to be transparent and accountable. Meanwhile,the Maan dam agitation has reached a critical point. It concerns only 1,226tribal families. They are only asking that the MP government policy onrehabilitation be implemented in letter and spirit. According to an estimate byNandini Sundar of the JNU, who is a member of the IPT, this will mean spendingonly an additional Rs 5 crore or roughly Rs 40,000 per family. Officials fromthe state government are reportedly worried about its implications for otherlarger dams to follow. We should be watching this decision — those who areto suffer because of dams being built and those who will benefit. And, ofcourse, all concerned citizens. And most certainly the Supreme Court, which hasruled in favour of the much bigger Sardar Sarovar — as long as there isjust and adequate rehabilitation.This is a battle for rehabilitation. Itis small. It is manageable. And if it can set better standards ofrehabilitation, the Maan dam oustees, the state government, and the chiefminister will be able to take credit for being the first dam where policies andpronouncements have matched action on the ground. That is the least we can dofor an uprooted people.(The authors work with the Mazdoor Kisan ShaktiSangathan and the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information)