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Sardar Sarovar Oversight Group Violating its Terms of Reference |
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Dear friends, Here is a petition calling out the blatant inconsistencies in the government's claims about the Oversight Group's work, using it as a pretext to continue construction. Please click the link to read the full petition and sign. http://petitions.aidindia.org/sample_surveys/ Sardar Sarovar Oversight Group Violating its Terms of Reference
Prime Minister Must Recall Group and Halt dam's Construction
Summary: The Terms of Reference and responsibilities of the Sardar Sarovar Relief and Rehabilitation Oversight Group (OSG) appointed by the Prime Minister of India were to "undertake sample checks to ascertain the facts of rehabilitation" However the Additional Solicitor General informed the Supreme Court that the sample checks would not be conducted. OSG has also not discussed or recorded any decisions regarding conducting sample-checks. Sample checking of Narmada valley villages for rehabilitation problems should not take more than 5-7 days. However the OSG is exceeding its terms of reference and instead of surveying samples is planning on surveying each and everyone of the 35,000 or so families. This will take upto Jue 19 and meanwhile the dam will be built to 121.9 mts putting thousands of families in the submergece zone. Critical time has been lost by the OSG to actually act on its terms of reference that could have come up with a quick assessment like the one made by the Prof Soz led Group of Ministers. We urge the Prime Minister to take cognizance and recall the OSG and call halt to the costruction of the Sardar Sarovar dam since rehabilitation assessment by sample-checks up to 121.9 mts has not been carried out by the OSG. We urge the National Sample Survey Orgaization to actually survey samples and come with a quick assessment in 5-7 days by May 17th 2006. We urge the chair and members of the OSG to listen to their inner voice, apologize and if they deem fit resign for violating their Terms of Reference.
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