Medha Patkar waged a war in the name of water to deny the benefits of Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) to Gujarat. During her visit to USA in 1989, her headquarter,She testified before a committee and called "SSP a great human tragedy, an economic disaster and a planned environmental degradation." Her crony Arundhati Roy also testified in March 2000, in Geneva and said that" SSP is being constructed by using massive force and violating Human Rights." They lobbied on foreign soil for scrapping the project by giving false testimonies.
By attempting to deny water to the farmers, farmlands and famine stricken people of the western India she and her cronies shamelessly built a career as revolutionists. At the end, they failed. It is no surprise that every evil force has lost out and vanquished in every page of the social history of the world.
India today is reeling under drought and famine. The rainfall deficit has been more than 15% on an average but in some states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, the deficit is more than 50%. The Central Government is contemplating to launch an emergency relief effort in over 320 districts in the country. Over 60% of agriculture being rainfed, there is clamour and chaos among the 600 million people, whose lives and economy are closedly linked to rains. Some State Governments have launched official prayers to the rain God in desperation of the situation.
India today is reeling under drought and famine. The rainfall deficit has been more than 15% on an average but in some states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, the deficit is more than 50%. The Central Government is contemplating to launch an emergency relief effort in over 320 districts in the country. Over 60% of agriculture being rainfed, there is clamour and chaos among the 600 million people, whose lives and economy are closedly linked to rains. Some State Governments have launched official prayers to the rain God in desperation of the situation.
At a juncture like this, the SSP is full and overflowing due to the effectiveness with which it can store the collective resource of rain water from the wide catchment area. What would just waste away as drainage is now impounded and given to people in places that are historically drought prone in Gujarat and Rajasthan . Although the rains are more than 50% deficient in Gujarat, thanks to SSP, the State does not have water scarcity and has not declared itself drought-prone.
The likes of Medha Patkar should realize that there is difference between work and war, plan and plunder and governance and chaos. If she comes out of her hiding and if she has a parched throat in the lands she roams to look for opportunities to exploit hapless people, she should walk into Gujarat. She can be sure to get a glass of water.
VK Saxena
President
National Council for Civil Liberties
Ahmedabad
