India: The Omkareshwar and the Narmada Sagar Projects threaten the Right to food in the Narmada Valley.

The Omkareshwar and Narmada Sagar Projects are part of the Narmada Project. The Omkareshwar Project was started in November 2003 in Madhya Pradesh, India. This project will submerge 93 sq. km of land which includes 5800 ha of forest lands and 30 villages in the Khandwa and Dewas Districts of Madhya Pradesh. The project is funded by India’s National Hydroelectricity Power Corporation(NHPC). Around 3024 families are threatened by eviction. Some evictions have already been carried out without proper land for land compensation. The victimised people have lost their food and water resources. Moreover 6000 families in Harsud are threatened by eviction during this monsoons as their land would be submerged due to the Narmada Sagar project. Less than a quarter of the 6000 families have moved, the remaining residents are refusing to move due to lack of proper resettlement. The state government is  using armed forces to move the residents to the new township but the people have been resisting as the new township lacks basic facilities. The State destroying the livelihoods without any fair compensation, violates the right to feed themselves. Hunger and malnutrition of a large number of  families are the results.

International action is needed now to urge the government for the resettlement of the 3024 families affected by the Omkareshwar Project and halt the forced evictions of the families from their land in Harsud. Please write polite letters to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh with a copy to the Prime Minister of India.