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

Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeathialy/albums/72157663123660140

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141260734@N04

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