Narmada dam: Gujarat Congress can do this



 

Editor’s note, Ahmedabad, 12 April 2013

During Gujarat Congress’s Jal Adhikar Yatra, Shri Shankersinh Vaghela is found repeatedly telling media persons and common people that it is not central government’s task to give permission to erect gates over Narmada dam! He says the job of permitting height of the dam is assigned to Narmada Control Authority, and central government has nothing to do in this matter.

Shri Vaghela should first read this article. He should read its first few paras at least to understand the current situation.

Then for good of Gujarat, he should apply all his own, and his party’s influence to push the things ahead in right direction.

There are three Ministers in central government’s Social Justice and Empowerment ministry which is responsible for pushing the things ahead that are stuck at present and blocking the progress of Narmada dam construction. One is cabinet minister and two are are ministers of state. Mr. Vaghela and other Congress men can contact them to push the things ahead. Progress of Narmada dam construction is stuck in this ministry at present, and these are the babu logs responsible.

This ministry is responsible to call a meeting of the Relief & Rehabilitation Sub-Group, Narmada Control Authority, to consider clearance of further raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Babu logs of this central govt ministry say that a meeting for this purpose would be held after examination/verification of the Report of the Government of Maharashtra(submitted the central ministry in January this year)! So, when they would complete their examination/verification process? When R&R sub group meeting will be held? Mr. Vaghela may reply.

Once R&R sub group meeting is called, there are other things also that Congress will be able to do. We may write another piece later on that. First lets see how soon the meeting is called.

(Note: DeshGujarat today called Delhi and confirmed that R&R sub group meeting’s date is yet not finalized. Verification of the action taken report submitted by Maharashtra government in January this year is still going on. It seems centre feels no serious urgency to tackle the Narmada dam issue).

Gujarat Congress’s statement shows lack of knowledge on Narmada issue, but one suggestion is good

Gujarat Congress has today issued – as expected – vicious statement against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his protest against centre on Narmada issue.

The statement says: Chief Minister Modi is playing drama of agitation against central government on the issue of opening the gates of Sardar Sarovar dam.

-Actually the issue is not about opening of gates. The issue is about erection  or installation of gates over the dam. Presently when there are no gates over the dam, there’s no question about opening them.

The statement further says that in the past during Digvijay Singh government’s period BJP leaders in Gujarat were accusing Madhya Pradesh (on Narmada issue). Now when since last ten years there’s BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, why they don’t pressure MP government?

-Actual and factual situation is that, Madhya Pradesh has completed all relief and rehabilitation works, and Madhya Pradesh supports Gujarat in Narmada Control Authority meetings in recent years. There’s no pending issue with Madhya Pradesh when it comes to raising the height of the dam any more. The root of the problem is in Maharashtra(details here) and in the centre and both have Congress government.

The statement asks a question that who stops Gujarat Chief Minister to make a representation over the issue of gates over Narmada dam?

-The actual fact is that Chief Minister Modi has made representation even before the Prime Minister more than once. The fact which is very much in public knowledge too.

The Congress statement has at least one thing which is good. The second last para of the statement says that Chief Minister should not select agitation path but should take all political parties of Gujarat and voluntary organization with him for making representation on Narmada gates issue.

-Now this is a good suggestion, but forget the Chief Minister, who stops Congress MPs, MLAs and leaders to go and make representation in Delhi over Narmada issue? Go and approach your Social Justice department which is not holding a meeting regarding increase of height of Narmada dam. And go and approach Congress ruled Maharashtra Chief Minister to clear the obstructions in the path of progress of Narmada dam project.

Also read: Water scarcity? Here is what Congress can do