Nergis Irani is a housewife and environmental activist in Dahanu (just over 100 km north of Bombay on the west coast of India). I am sure that, reading the brochure from the Dahan Takula Environment Welfare Association (DTEWA) below, many of you will find, as I did, that her experience has much in common with your own experience. - Jan ******************************************************************************* From: dahanu.ilbom.ernet.in!•••@••.••• To: •••@••.••• (Jan Slakov) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 17:02:17 Organization: DAHANU TALUKA ENVIRONMENT WELFARE ASSOCIATION Dear Jan, I have tried to be as brief as possible like you suggested but there is so much matter it has been quite difficult. After reading it you are free to edit and pass it on to the other RN members as we are constantly seeking support. Here is an electronic version of DTEWA's brochure. DTEWA--An Introduction Dahanu Taluka Environment Welfare Association (DTEWA) as its name suggests has been fighting the whole system to ensure the implementation of law - Its vital work however, is working towards protecting this eco- fragile region leading to the ehancment of sustainable development based on Dahanu's abundant natural resources. Dahanu Road station is 120 kms north, on the west coast of Mumbai. A brief background: Dahanu is a productive green oasis the only buffer zone left, between two heavily industrialised and polluted regions. DTEWA is battling the tremendous pressures from the government and the greedy corporate lobbies who are bent on destroying Dahanu in the name of development. The region is blessed with a rich coastal area that sustains a large population of fishermen, a forest cover that sustains the Warlis(an unassimilated tribal people indigenous to the region), orchards and farms that supply fruits, flowers and vegetables to the surrounding towns and cities as also agricultural holdings cultivated by the local peasants and tribals. Dahanu Taluka, with 49% of its area under forest cover, its density of orchards, wetlands and mangroves, is considered the lungs of the polluted cities surrounding it. Legal redressal, People's movements, Media campaigns, International pressure lobbies and a constant vigil on the machinations of the government in collusion with the industrial and builders lobbies are our main weapons in this battle. The battle began when the proposal of setting up a thermal power plant in Dahanu was mooted in 1989. Nergis B. Irani, a housewife and an enlightened and progressive visionary, heard about the plans and realised that this would be just the beginning of the total annhiliation of Dahanu Taluka and its hapless populace especially the self-supporting fishermen and the indegenous people therein. An active social worker fighting for women's issues on a local level, she decided that if no deterrant action was taken the government would destroy Dahanu as it has many of India's sanctuaries and productive rural regions. Kitayun Rustom, a former school teacher and another resident of Dahanu joined Nergis Irani in her battle and they set up DTEWA expressly to oppose the thermal power plant. All their concerted efforts opposing the siting of the illegal plant failed against the might of a corrupt government. They did however manage to force the government, to legally notifify the Dahanu Taluka as a protected area against any urbanization and further industrialisation; keeping in mind its eco- fragile status in terms of its natural wealth and also to protect the sustainable lifestyle of the Warlis,(the tribals who constitute 67 percent of its population). A Writ Petition filed in 1994 at the Suprreme Court of India, resulted in a 22 page Order ensuring NO CHANGE IN THE LAND USE PATTERN, no expansion of the power plant, protection of Dahanu as an ecologically fragile region this amongst many, many restrictions. Since May 1997, DTEWA has been campaigning against P&O (Peninsular and Orient Co.)who propose to set up a $ 2.7 billion all weather, mega- port, a 33 berth, monstrosity that will annihilate the fishing community, whilst the traffic, urbanization and the associated evils linked with the port will be of fatal consequence of the eco- fragility of the region. What is even more dangerous is that this particular multi-national, is proposing to do all this in clear violation of then Order passed by the Supreme Court of India protecting the region. DTEWA is co-ordinating the people's movement against the proposed port besides advising 'The Protection Authority' (set up by the Supreme Court through its Order) and other local groups opposed to the port on the legal angle. DTEWA's Internaional liasion officer, Shabnam Merchant is in charge of rallying support for the movement from Green pressure groups and other international ngo's. A media liasion officer takes care of the media campaigns while spreading awareness of the issue amongst students and other Indian ngo's. With the support of WWF-UK, DTEWA has commisioned complete bio- diversity studies of the Dahanu region which when completed will be a permenant and complete record of the threatened eco-system, natural wealth and the flora and the fauna of the region. Yet another study commisioned by DTEWA is being conducted to look into the socio- economics and the self sustaining lifestyle of the people of the region viz. the proposed port. Even as the battle against the siting of the port in Dahanu is being fought, DTEWA is pressurising the Thermal power plant to switch from coal to the less polluting gas as per the ruling of the Supreme court. With "implementation of the law" and "Justice for the backward and fringe communities like the Warlis" as their basic tenet, DTEWA continues to keep a vigil to ensure that Dahanu remains the perfect prototype for all the rural areas in India - Green, pristine yet productive. ----- Here is my response to your question - > What are you learning from your work? That I cannot give up this particular commitment if I have to live with myself, even after well over 13 years. I have had to sacrifice a great deal. I have endured threats to my life and confiscation of my farm and those of my children, all illegally (I have obtained a Stay order in the Bombay High Court). I have staked all I have, my MIND, my WEALTH and my very SELF. Our movement has become a people's movement and I am ready now to get out and do what I love doing best i.e. being a homemaker, a mother and a grandmother. - That our government (this is my experience) is corrupt, at every level and this includes all, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. - The people operate out of fear and do NOTHING as then they cannot get any work done - the one who fights pay heavily through his work. EVeryone wants 'to LOOK good', instead of 'BEING good'. - That NO officer or politician working with integrity can carry on long and is transferred immediately if he fails to toe the crooked line. - That even a small place like Dahanu is completely controlled from the top at the State level through its Municipal Council and one of its Party members in Dahanu. All the illegal work is cleared through the 'so called GUARDIAN Minister'of the District. The ruling party does what the moneybags want and everyone is raping and pillaging India. - That the PEOPLE are responsible for this state of affairs and must take responsibility instead of blaming the Government. If there are no 'givers' there can be no 'takers' and the givers are more to blame, if any blame is to be handed out. This may as well be true of all the nations. - That if the people do not start NOW India will be totally destroyed and its citizens beggared for ever. - That our only true wealth is in our 'natural resources'and the future of India, her prosperity and regeneration lies in her rich bio- diversity for the world to use. - That women can do wonders and it is time they fully participated in the process of governance - and a minimal government is what is now needed, we can all do without leeches and blood letting. - Nergis Irani, Convenor - INTACH (Indian National Trust Architectural and Cultural Heritage) Chapter Dahanu. Secretary - DTEWA (Dahanu Taluka Environment Welfare Association) Gulmarg, Vaki, Ambatpada, Dahanu Road, Thane District, Maharashtra, India -401603 Tel- 91-2528-22688 Email - •••@••.•••
