October
31, 2000.
Volunteers
of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Association for India's Development
(AID-Bay Area) are shocked to learn of the October 18th, 2-1 majority verdict
of the Supreme Court of India that allows further construction of the Sardar
Sarovar Dam.
The
chapter volunteers who have been closely studying the various complex issues
regarding the Sardar Sarovar Project for over one year are convinced that
the project as its stands is unsound on many counts including human rights
issues, environmental aspects and cost-benefit analyses. By overlooking
the copious evidence on all of these aspects that was presented to the
court, the judges of the Supreme Court of India who delivered the majority
judgement, have failed to deliver justice to the some of the most marginalized
sections of Indian society.
The verdict's naivety shows in at least a couple of its expectations -
The
Bay Area chapter of AID, in its September 10th meeting had passed a resolution
supporting the Narmada Bachao Andolan's struggle against the Sardar Sarovar
Projects and as an expression of solidarity with the people of the Narmada
valley, volunteers from the chapter and their friends and family are sending
signed messages on the well recognized blue-flag-of-resolve of the NBA.
A cloth banner for use in rallies and demonstrations protesting the verdict
is also being sent to the NBA. It proclaims "Amu aakha ek se" ("We
are all one").