Barwani: People living in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district have pledged to save trees at several villages that are expected to be submerged once the dam gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam are closed.
Residents of several villages have taken a pledge that they will sacrifice their life before trees are cut down by the government.
The locals are staring at displacement post closure of dam gates by July 15. They said that even as the administration plans to meet for proposed plantation of 25 lakh saplings, the real question is what will happen to the lakhs of trees facing the threat of submergence.
Rahul Yadav, one of the Narmada Bachao Andolan activists, said that those saplings planted during CM Shivraj Chouhan’s Narmda Seva Yatra have either dried up or have been left unattended.
“We have saved trees that are over a hundred years old and we pledge to save them again,” the locals said.
Another volunteer Bhagirath Dhangar claimed that felling of trees could lead to earthquakes and the state government has no plans for tackling environment degradation. “Can the government prevent harm to the environment,” he questioned.
The foundation for the dam was laid in 1961 and it took 56 years for the completion of the controversy-hit project when on June 17, Centre approved the closure of 30 dam gates.
The NBA activists had got the project stalled by approaching SC in 1996 on environmental grounds and rehabilitation issues and the work only resumed after the apex court allowed work to continue in the year 2000.
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