Press Release
January 6, 2017: New Delhi
Prominent people’s movements and other civil society organisations from India today extended their support and solidarity to the struggle against the India supported Rampal power project in Bangladesh, coinciding the Global Day of Protest called by the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources Power and Port, which spearhead the struggle.
Urging the Government of India to withdraw from the project, the statement said, “With India’s NTPC jointly owning the project, BHEL supplying equipment and Indian Exim Bank providing finances, India’s footprint in this project is too large which has the potential to perpetuate discontent between the two neighbouring countries.”
Signatories of the Letter of Solidarity include, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, National Alliance of People’s Movements, All India Union of Forest Working People, Indian Social Action Forum – INSAF, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Greenpeace India, Environment Support Group, Bangalore, Matu Jan Sangathan, Uttrakhand and others.
The statement said, “Sundarbans is part of the culture and ethos of both Bangladesh and India, supporting the livelihood of millions and protecting them from natural calamities. Any damage to it either side of the borders will result in monumental disaster.”
While urging the Government of India to withdraw from the project, the groups also urged the government to “extend financial & technical help to its commendable decentralised solar energy program, in line with India’s commitment to renewables and spirit of the Paris Agreement.”
Full text of the Letter of Solidarity:
Letter of solidarity to
National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources Power and Port, Bangladesh
On the Global Day of Protest for the Sundarbans, January 7, 2017
We, people’s movements and other civil society organisations from India, extend our support and solidarity to the National Committee in their struggle against the Rampal power project and to protect the Sundarbans.
Sundarbans is part of the culture and ethos of both Bangladesh and India, supporting the livelihood of millions and protecting them from natural calamities. Any damage to it either side of the borders will result in monumental disaster.
With India’s NTPC jointly owning the project, BHEL supplying equipment and Indian Exim Bank providing finances, India’s footprint in this project is too large which has the potential to perpetuate discontent between the two neighbouring countries. India’s pronounced commitment to renewable energy and its investment in coal based Rampal project in such an eco-sensitive terrain do not match. We urge the Government of India to withdraw from this project and extend financial & technical help to its commendable decentralised solar energy program, in line with India’s commitment to renewables and spirit of the Paris Agreement
We commend the sustained non-violent struggle of the National Committee against this disastrous project and extend all support and solidarity to it. We will do all at our disposal to urge the Government of India to withdraw from this project.
Signed by:
1 South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People
2 National Alliance of People’s Movements
3 All India Union of Forest Working People
4 Indian Social Action Forum – INSAF
5 Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha
6 All India Forum of Forest Movements
7 Mines, Minerals & People
8 North East Peoples Alliance
9 Narmada Bachao Andolan
10 Greenpeace India
11 Environment Support Group, Bangalore
12 Matu Jan Sangathan, Uttrakhand
13 Environics Trust, New Delhi
14 Society for Rural Urban and Tribal Initiative, New Delhi
15 Institute for Democracy and Sustainability, New Delhi
16 Delhi Forum, New Delhi
17 Intercultural Resources, New Delhi
18 Equations, Bangalore
19 Mahan Sangharsh Samiti, Madhya Pradesh
20 Srijan Lokhit Samiti, Madhya Pradesh
21 Khan Kaneej Aur ADHIKAR, Jharkhand
22 Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Gujarat
23 Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan, Gujarat
24 Teeradesha Mahila Vedi, Kerala
25 Indigenous Perspectives, Manipur
26 Manipur Cycle Club, Manipur
27 Public Finance Public Accountability Collective, New Delhi
28 Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Mumbai
29 Centre for Financial Accountability, New Delhi
30 The Research Collective, New Delhi
31 Tarini Manchanda, filmmaker
32 Benny Kuruvilla, Researcher, Delhi
33 Kiran Shaheen, New Delhi
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