State's responsibility

Sir, - In his report, `Maharashtra offer to Patkar' (Sept. 26), Mahesh Vijapurkar writes, ``The Maharashtra Government has more or less decided to convert 73 forest villages into revenue villages to enable the persons displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Project to secure land titles but Ms. Medha Patkar is unwilling to wait for the processes to be completed. ... According to the Maharashtra Government, the Centre has to consent to the conversion of areas into revenue villages.''

This is incorrect. The decision to convert these villages into revenue villages lies entirely with the Maharashtra Government. However, it took 16 days of `dharna' and 11 days of fast by the villagers along with Ms. Patkar before the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, confirmed that this would take place pending amicable settlement of the Narmada Bachao Andolan's case in the Mumbai High Court. The Advocate-General of the State, Mr. Wahanvatty, has already stated in the High Court that it agreed with the NBA's position. It is therefore Maharashtra's responsibility to complete the process of issuing land titles to the villagers soon and there should be no attempt to shift responsibility to the Centre nor to delay the process by any means.

Concluding the fast on the 11th day, Ms. Patkar said, ``The State Government could have done all this within a day by holding proper discussions with the NBA. But the tribals and peasants have to struggle with their lives for such small things.''

Though the people have withdrawn the fast they will have to remain vigilant to ensure that the Government keeps its word, not only on the land rights but also the status of rehabilitation, as well as investigating the cost-benefit of the project.

L.S. Aravinda,

Mumbai

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