The issue is more complicated than you think

I had a very good comment from Divya Achyutam regarding my piece about Medha Patkar.
And this was the comment.

" What exactly did you do to claim that you are with Medha??? Reading about her in the newspaper and and writing a blog is not being with her. What can you do today to help her stance? What can anyone do to help her stance? Is her stance on the Narmada issue right? After all, rising the dam height would only provide electricity to 3 states. Yes it would displace a lot of economically deprived people, but you are talking about three states on the other hand!!! "

Divya, at present I just can write and make many people aware about her. That was one of my intentions. I can't go all the way to Delhi and sit with her during the fast, I would like to do, but at present not able to do it.

Then raising the dam's height would provide electricity to three states, I agree. But at what cost?
At the cost of ruining the lives of thousands.

Instead the government can control the illegal electrical tapping that is happening all over India. Also lot of power is going wasted due to inefficient transmission and poor networks, do it first.

Power can also be produced from conventional resources like wind and sun from Rajasthan. Right now that source has not been tapped to full extent. Currently only private investors are investing more in Rajasthan wind mill projects.

What Medha and others are fighting for is proper land reallocation for the people. Where will the people go? They are poor helpless tribals. Had there been some Rajputs there, would the political heavyweights allowed it?

Supreme court itself has said only after proper rehabilitation, the level should be raised, not just providing money.

India has over 4,000 large dams. Three-quarters of India's dams are in the three states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and most are for irrigation.

Some facts about dams in India

Pros and cons

• Indian food production rose from 50 to 200 million tonnes 1950-1997; two-thirds of increase from irrigation.
• Data does not make clear what proportion of the increase was contributed by large dams: estimated 10%; Government claims 30%.
• Before 1978 all dams built without an environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA became statutory only in 1994.
• Estimates of those displaced by large dams in India in the last 50 years vary from 21 to 56 million people.
• 40% of those displaced are adivasis (tribal people), Less than 50% of people displaced by large projects are rehabilitated.
• Construction occurs under the Official Secrets Act; access is denied, information is withheld, participation is non-existent.
• The costs of dams are systematically underestimated and their benefits are inflated.
• Accepted cost-benefit ratio for large dams is not met in 8 out of 10 cases.
• Heavy silting shortens the life of many dams.
• There have been 17 cases of earthquake tremor induced by large reservoirs in India.

Only the first point is a pro, but that too has been rendered useless by poor farming methods and careless storage of food grains by the government. The government can fine tune these things and then increase the height of the dam.

These are just political acts to include it in the list of achievments of the Governmnet.

I got these facts here.

I actually don't know who this Divya is, but a heartfelt thanks for her, since here comments made me to give some more facts and the depth of the issue.

I also feel happy that somebody who I don't know has commented about my blog. I have no qualms or anything against Divya. Divya if you are not satisfied with the details, do mail me. I am also eager to know who you are?

Sorry Viera, luck seems to desert you

Arsenal have knocked out Juventus from Champions league quaterfinal.

Had it be an year ago, Patrick Viera would have been the most happiest man on earth after that victory.
Now, the truth will be bitter for Viera. He left Arsenal in search of European glory, only to see his new club Juventus go down at the hands of his former club.

This year Champions league is all about Arsenal and Villarreal I believe. Just like Liverpool last year, Arsenal are having a poor run at English league but going great in Europe. They have defeated Real Madrid and Juventus to reach the semi-finals.Arsenal just like any other English club rely on a faster game with the likes of Ljungberg, Fabregas, Reyes, Pires and not to forget one of the best finishers in Henry.

I think they can clear the next hurdle against Villarreal but you can't discount the Argentine Juan Roman Riquelme, surely one of the most creative players around. Yellow Submarines own their fairy tale run to him.

Will they go on to win the championship just like Liverpool did last year?

It will be tough, certainly not unlikely considering their form and this is sport which throws a surprise when you least expect it. Arsenal will be facing the winner of AC-Milan - Barcelona encounter. I believe Wenger would love to face Milan instead of Barcelona, since Barca play more attacking football.

As a fan, I would like to see arsenal play Barca, for the 50th Champions League crown, on May 17th at State de France, Paris. Would love to see the Catalan attack test the Arsenal defense which has maintained eight straight clean sheets.

Before that happens, I have to get a Set up box in my chennai home to watch it.

Changing my blog name

I changed my blog's name to My Thoughts from My Views.
The reason is am not getting enough time to sit down and write my views in detail. Hence, thought of writing down then and there about what I think generally in a brief manner.
Hoping to write posts more frequently, lets us see. Only time will tell.

We are with you, Medha

It has been eight days since Medha Patkar began fasting demanding for immediate suspension of increasing Sardar Sarovar Dam's height by the Government.

On Tuesday, when Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz met Medha and told that he will visit the Dam's site and look into the issue, she didn't budge. Promises and assurances are not new to her, even we know it, won't she?

The project planning to increase the height of the dam from 110 to 121 meters, if completed will displace 320,000 villagers and submerge more than 37,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land.

With the kind of corruption in the country, hardly few of the displaced people will get proper reallocation and compensation.

Patkar has been fighting against this since the inception of the idea in 1985. The way Medha Patkar has carried on this struggle despite all odds is inspiring. Patkar's never ceasing efforts made World Bank rethink and review the support it was giving to the project. When World Bank found out that the project was not planned properly, the final installment of the $450 million was cancelled.

This is one of the many victories for Medha.

Through these years, she has never resorted to violent activities though she was at the receiving end many times. Irrespective of whether Medha is able to stop the government from constructing the dam or not,

She is the triumph of democracy.

Let's hope that she wins the battle and also recovers her health.

Doctors have said that the, next 48 hours are crucial to her health, lets pray that she will be well.
Along with Medha two others Jamsing Nargave and Bhagwatibai Jatpuria are also taking fast, lets pray for them also.

Good Luck, no sorry I will not say so, luck has never been her way. It's hard work, grit, determination which has bought her so far.

All the best, Medha. We are with you.