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Gujarat's establishment closes ranks against World Bank study team on Narmada dam

The strong protest from the people of Gujarat against the World Commission on Dams, scheduled to visit Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat later this month, has now crystallised with all the political parties joining hands with the business and trade community in opposing the World Bank-floated inquiry commission to assess the viability of mega-dams.

At an all-party meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel on Friday, political leaders decided to hold a special one-day session of the Vidhan Sabha before September 17 when the commission sets foot in Gandhinagar, to voice popular sentiment on the sensitive Narmada issue.

Those who participated in the meeting included Industry Minister Suresh Mehta, Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, Congress legislature party chief whip Naresh Rawal, Manubhai Parmar (Congress), Mansinh Parmar (Rashtriya Janata Party) and Ranjit Patel (Janata Dal). Narmada Development and Irrigation Minister Jaynarayan Vyas and Sardar Sarovar Nigam chief Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

The members of the World Commission on Dams, comprising Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar and Laxmi Chand Jain, among others, were "known for their anti-Sardar Sarovar stand", the leaders said and decided not to cooperate with the commission at either government or any other level.

The meeting also passed a resolution to declare its non- cooperation to the commission which, it said, had "no locus standi". The resolution urged the Centre to cancel the commission's visit which, it alleged, was a "serious conspiracy". The body should not be allowed to enter the Sardar Sarovar dam site, they said, adding even if they did, "The people of Gujarat would oppose them".

The 12-member commission, headed by Dr Kader Aslan, South Africa's water resources minister, had only two Indian members, Patkar and Jain.

The politicians decided to fix the date for the special assembly session after the chief minister's meeting with the governor in this regard.

Meanwhile, reacting sharply to the commission's visit, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Narmada Foundation Trust and the Sankat Nivaran Society of Gujarat has shot off letters to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chief Minister Patel over the issue, alleging that Patkar and Jain had been "intentionally" included in the commission.

In a joint letter, GCCI president Utkarsh Shah, NFT chairman K K Patel and society's honorary secretary Hiralal Bhagwati said the business community of the state strongly opposed the visit of the World Bank inquiry committee to assess the viability of mega dams in the South-East Asian countries, including India where it planned to visit Delhi, Bhopal and Gujarat.

They said it was highly regrettable and unfortunate that the commission's proposed visit was not only "motivated" but also "biased" against the multi-million Sardar Sarovar Project which was the lifeline of Gujarat and springwell of prosperity to the surrounding states and the country at large.

They said even the composition of the commission was neither impartial nor transparent in as much as two "known opponents" of the Narmada dams, Patkar and Jain, former member of the Planning Commission, were "intentionally" included therein. It was feared that the visit of such a commission, which was "hostile" to the Narmada dams, will only result in delaying the implementation of the Narmada projects on which more than Rs 60 billion had already been spent and on which easing of acute drinking water problem of the people of Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat largely depended.

The signatories said the "discriminatory treatment" adopted by the World Bank by constituting such a commission against the construction of big dams by developing (Third World) countries cannot be justified on any rational grounds. Such variation in standards between developed and developing countries was inconsistent with the principles of natural justice and fair play. At a time when big dams were needed for developmental purposes, any opposition to big dams in the name of environment or human rights (rehabilitation), was nothing but "an attempt to paralyse progress".

Unfortunately, the experience of the World Bank-appointed Morse Commission report in 1993 was extremely sad in as much as it lacked objectively in its findings and recommendations. Viewed in this context, it was feared that findings of this team would only create further road-blocks in the speedy implementation of the project which was already sub judice and under active consideration of the Supreme Court, the signatories said.

If the World Bank wanted to send a team to Delhi, Bhopal and Gujarat, it should take the Union government into confidence and provide terms of reference so that known anti-dam activists, who are "enemies of development" could be kept out of such committee. The very fact that even the Gujarat government had strongly opposed such a move of the World Bank reflected the demand and feelings of the people of Gujarat, they added.

Shah, Patel and Bhagwati said the mega projects of national dimensions called for large vision and great minds. Great models of national interest and international attention required comprehensive, positive and genuine approach to development perceptions and not ego conflicts, preconceived notions or missionary zeal coloured by "anti-dam ideology" and short-term and narrow approach.

While the assistance by the World Bank in building big dams and providing know-how were welcome, any direct or indirect attempts at "throttling" the Narmada project would be opposed vehemently by the people of Gujarat.

They urged the government that in view of these facts and circumstances, it should ensure that the World Bank team was not allowed to visit the country, Gujarat in particular, for assessing the Narmada dam.

UNI

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