Agitation on World Anti-Dam Day - No dam on river Pinder - Update from Ganga - Matu People's Organization

There have been continuous demonstrations by the people of the Pinder valley since January 20, 2011 against the Devsari HEP

. On the occasion of the World Anti- Dam Day, on March 14, 2011 there was a large demonstration under the banner of Bhu- Swami Sangharsh Samiti and Matu Jansangathan in the three villages which served as venues for the drama of project ‘public hearings’. An effigy of the Land Acquisition Act was also burned by the people.

Several prominent leaders of the area were at the agitation. In Kotsari, Subhas Parihar of Matu Jansangathan, Jagdish Bhai from village Sunau and Pansingh from village Paithani led the demonstration. In Chepdu, women leaders like Mamta Shah and Kamla Ben were at the forefront with Pushkar Shah. In Deval, Neema Ben of Phaldia, Sunita and Balwant bhai of Talot, Dinesh Misra of village Haat, Munni Devi of village Kael, K D Misra of Deval and Mahipat bhai from Devsari led the people in protest against the Devsari HEP. They were joined by Vimal Bhai.

The people of the Pinder valley stand in opposition to the destruction of the valley and the construction of the dams. Protests since January 20, 2011 have been going on in affected villages like Paithani, Paingad, Sunau, Devalgad, Soona, Tharali, Chepdu, Nandakesari, Ichholi, Hatkalyani, Talaur, Padmalla, Kothi, Ghaud, Khirkot, Atthu, Boragad, Chaud, Kunnipartha, Milkhet, Sorigad, Savaad, Thermalchoting, Lausriban, Mandoli, Khesbalad, Pinau, Bakh, Harmi, Ulanghra, Tudri, Kotha. People aware of the situation, must remember that the ‘public hearings’ of the project were stopped by the people twice, as they had been kept in the dark about the proceedings and were misled. Yet, this public hearing was declared a success. In the environmental ‘public hearing’ conducted on January 20, 2011 the government, the administration and the dam company were seen working together, securing each other’s interests. It is clear that this dam is being forced on the people. The dam- affected of the Mandakini valley are rotting in jails, the Alaknanda valley has been destroyed by the unyielding attacks of one dam project after another. The displacement from the Tehri dam continues to date.

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