We extend our solidarity to the people of Narmada Valley, who are organising a massive protest rally this week against the proposed Chutka nuclear plant. Hundreds of thousands of people, especially from the Gond adivasi tribe in Central India, are waging an intense, yet peaceful struggle against this project, which threatens their safety, lives and livelihoods. Ironically, the same communities were displaced for the Bargi dam on Narmada river in 1990, on similar promises of rehabilitation, jobs and development, which never materialised.

We find it particularly appalling that the Government of India is violating constitutional provisions for the protection of adivasi land and their rights to forests and natural resources. Mandla District comes under the Schedule of Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Areas) Act and yet the government has used pressure tactics to grab land for the nuclear plant. Extremely fragile ecologies, communities as well as other living species dependent on them will be destroyed by the Chutka nuclear power project. Changing climate will further compound the problems of these communities who will scramble for drinking and irrigation water as hugely water-guzzling nuclear plants are built in the area. The Bargi dam was built exclusively for irrigation and diverting its water for nuclear and other industrial projects is a breach of trust of the local people. In case of a nuclear accident, the water will prove insufficient for cooling the reactors and the consequences could be worse than Fukushima.

As India completely lacks a safety culture as well as independent and effective nuclear regulation, the country’s former nuclear regulator has very recently warned against any further nuclear expansion. We demand that the government of India pays heed to such independent voices and organises an open and democratic consultation with affected and concerned people at the earliest. We also strongly oppose the violent arm-twisting of dissenting voices at the grassroots and vilification of anti-nuclear activists that the government has resorted to in recent years.

Once again, we extend our complete moral support to the courageous people of the Narmada valley – women, elderly, children, farmers and fisher folk – who have shown extreme resilience and restraint in this long-drawn, non-violent struggle.

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