***Already rich farmer!, with their political clout, are programming the Narmada water for 10 new sugarcane factories in northern Gujarat, which it already wealthy. Even the name of Sanat Mehta, head of the Narmada project, is connected with one tugar plant.***

A boat lazily took me •cross the serene Na rmada, larger than Its old size Even the incomplete dam had at one time caught enough water to submerge a temple that showed up now from stem to stem The ascent to village Manibeli begins from the dock, near the temple

This Is the village where the police has used lathis mercilessly many a time to clear the people before the Impounded Narmada water would Inundate them Some 55 men. women and children are still perched on a height determined not to quit. They are safe till probably next June when the dam. already 69 metres high despite assurances to the contrary, would have risen to 80 metres as the Gujarat chief minister claimed the other day (The full height will be 140 metres)

Along the Narmada. I visited one more habitation. Vadgam. not more than a cluster of a few huts, one of the last posts of re sistance. The people 30 fami Iles, are uncertain about their future but they feel justified In not havthg moved because a few of those who had gone to the al ternative sites have returned, finding new surroundings unfamiliar and Inadequate

Some human rights activists and I took a four-day journey to see the places, where the people were still living, resisting the pressure and the prize offered by the authorities, and where the oustees had been rehabilitated. There is no doubt that the life is picking up In new colonies, although the tales of hardship are unending.

I wish nobody would have to leave- his or her hearth. New places, whatever the facilities, cannot compensate the loss of

neighbourhood, friends and the living Itself. But then people all over the world have be*n shifted from their homes — some because of a dam that has been built, some because of a factory that has come up and some because of a country’s boundary that has changed None of them has liked the uprooting but after some time they have taken life in their stride But msny like the Narmada Bbchao Andolan votaries, led by Medha Padkhar. are conscientious objectors against the very project that disturbs the lives of lakhs — and environments.

Whether Narmada should have been damned or not is not the debate I want to revive. I have listened to those who oppose the dam in any shape or form and those who swear by It. Both get worked up soon Both seem to Imagine that a stand can only be defended by the language of violence and by condemning those who do not accept their point of view. For both of them there are no shades. There is only dam or no dam. black or white

I want to concentrate on the fallout, the rehabilitation part. That is the reason why some of us went to Gujarat, to see where the uprooted have restruck the roots. Some 6.500 families out of 41,000 have ■ been rehabilitated, according to official sources. Medha's supporters put the figure of the affected at two lakh families (10

lakh people) The estimate by the Gujarat non-government or ganlsatioris (NGOsI and the Sarvodaya workers Is. however, far less, around 50,000 families

Despite certain drawbacks, the work on the Gujarat side is going apace A five-acre plot of land is being allotted to every adult, plus money for bullocks and rehabilitation Both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, particularly the latter, are far behind Maharashtra is trying

to clear the Taloda forest where 26 lakh trees would have Io be cut.

However. Gujarat Is responsible for the settlement of all oustees. whether they live in Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh The Narmada Tribunal Award has made It clear and none in Gujarat has challenged this.

The government does not have land even to resettle the affected In Gujarat alone, how are they talking about the ones in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh?' the non dam votaries told me. They may be right but Why not to call the bluff instead of dwelling on the wrongs of the dam? I did not get a satisfactory answer from the Andolan ideo-

logues I found the promise of rehabilitation firmer than be fore following prime minister Narasimha Rao's meeting with chief ministers of Gujarat. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

I would like New Delhi to go farther and ensure that the im pounded Narmada water at Sardar Sarovar is primarily used in Saurashtra and the Kutch. where the parched throats are more needy than the

parched lands.' Perhaps an express canal can be built to take water straight to southern Gujarat. This may be difficult to implement politically but. if done. It would assuage many objectors

Already rich farmers, with their political clout, are pro-Eamming the Narmada waler

• 10 new sugarcane factories in northern Gujarat, which Is already wealthy Even the name of Sdnat Mehta, head of the Narmada project, is connected with one sugar plant

The Gujarat NGOs are unhappy over the measly share for distant areas in Saurashtra (9 5 per cent) and the Kutch (1.5 per cent). They want a legislation to stop the use of water in north

ern Gujarat The state chief minister has told them that it Is not constitutionally possible. But after checking with experts in Delhi. 1 find it can be done

We shall not be a party to the kuluks cornering the gains " say the Gujarat NOGs If we fall we shall be the first to join Medha " The Citizens for Democracy (CFD). a human rights organisation vainly tried to get the two at the same platform to harness their efforts to fight the poachers, those who want to appropriate the water even before it reaches Rajkot, from where the need begins

Strange as It may sound, the main agitation over another dam. the one at Tehri. is on re habilitatfon The affected people nearly one lakh, would feel satisfied if the terms of resettlement to the Narmada oustees were applicable to them, that is. five acres for every adult (They have been promised two acres per family)

Sunderlal Bahuguna. who has been leading the.agitation at Tehri is not reconciled to the dam which, he believes is being built in a seismic area. If ever the earthquake destroys the dam. the area up to Bulamsahar. 75 miles away, •rill be submerged." says Bahuguna.

Unlike the Narmada where the dam is nearly half built, the foundation of Tehri dam Is yet to be laid. However, both dams have suffered a setback: the

Tehn because the financier, the Soviet Union, has coUapeed and the Narmada-because the World Bank has stopped the aid.

The two dams also tell the story of two agitations and their leaders Medha has been able to harness international opinion and has no dearth of attention in India. She has a large number of workers and sympathis ers She has even forced the central government to review the Narmada project and the prime minister to have another look at the rehabilitation Bahuguna is essentially a one-man show. Whenever he wanted to draw media attention, he has travelled all the way from Tehri to Delhi to do so He says his struggle is spiritual

The prime minister does not even acknowledge his letters In fact, he Is known more as a person who has agitated to Mop the felling of trees than as an objector of Ilie darn Medha. too. complains that the prime minister has never met her not even replied to her letters.

Traversing different ways, the two are converging at the same point Bahuguna says: Due to indifference of Delhi our efforts of non-violent defence are eroded." Medha also says that the government's obduracy is telling upon the people s pa tience and they we desperate Bahuguna fears that the mill ' tants may take over Medha already sees the making of a violent resistance

The first village. Manlbelli which the authorities tried to vacate nearly a year ago. saw the people fighting for their homes The Tehri oustees are still talking to the authorities. But both are determined to have a place In the sun. whatever the cost.