National Water Parliament

Following up the meeting on Globalization and Lok Swaraj: the Challenge after Doha in Dehra Dun on 15th & 16th December 2001 where Water Liberation Movement was launched as well as the National Alliance of Women Food Rights meeting in Delhi on 9th January 2002, it was decided to hold a Pani Panchayat: National Water Parliament (Public Hearing on Water) in Delhi on Friday, 22nd March 2002 on the occasion of the International Water Day.

The National Water Parliament will be held at the Speakers' Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg (Behind R.B.I.), New Delhi. You are invited to attend the National Water Parliament.

Prior to the National Public Hearing on 22nd March, a two weeks intensive Study Tour on Water: Jal Swaraj Yatra will be organised from 11th March to 21st March 2002. The Study Tour will explore our ancient water harvesting systems of Delhi (Baolies) with well known water conservationists from INTACH-Delhi, the Delhi School of Planning and Architecture and other experts including international fame Kathy Goldsmith and Herbert Girardet. The Study tour would then proceed to Dehra Dun on its way to Tehri to study the untold sufferings of the displaced people of the Tehri and questionable viability of Tehri Dam for its use in Hydro Electricity, Irrigation and Drinking Water. The tour would take the participants to various cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Roorkee, along the course of Ganga and culminate with the National Public Hearing in Delhi on Friday, the 22nd March 2002.

If any member(s) of your organisation/ movement/ group would like to join the study tour please contact us at the earliest. We would request you to please nominate your candidate for the tour latest by 5th of March 2002.

There were two regional public hearings on Water, at Hyderabad on 24th February (Sunday) and at Bhubhaneshwar on Wednesday, 27th February 2002, being organised by Navdanya/ Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in collaboration with the local groups.

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