THE NARMADA RIVER
THE NARMADA VALLEY PROJECT -
The Narmada Valley Development Project (NVDP) comprises several major dams and associated infrastructure aimed at harnessing the water resources of the Narmada River for multiple purposes, including irrigation, hydropower generation, and water supply. The Narmada water dispute tribunal was constituted by the government of India on 6 October 1969 to adjudicate over the disputes on the Narmada water between Madhya Pradesh,Gujarat and maharastra.
As per the tribunal’s decision 30 major, 135 medium and 3000 small dams were granted approval for construction including raising the height of the sardar sarovar dam. The important dams were – sardar sarovar dam , maheshwar , Indira sagar dam , omkareshwar , tawa , bargi irrigation facilities etc.
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN -
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a social movement in India that originated in 1985 to protest against the construction of large dams along the Narmada River, one of the longest rivers in India.
Objective – The primary objective of the Narmada Bachao Andolan is to oppose the construction of large dams on the Narmada River, particularly the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which is the largest dam in the project. The movement raises concerns about the environmental impact, displacement of local communities, loss of agricultural land, and violations of human rights associated with these dam projects.
Important leaders of the movement -
Medha Patkar, a prominent social activist, emerged as one of the key leaders of the NBA. She played a crucial role in mobilizing support for the movement, raising awareness about the issues faced by affected communities, and advocating for their rights. Patkar’s leadership and activism brought national and international attention to the plight of those affected by the dam projects. She has been involved in organizing protests, hunger strikes, and legal challenges to oppose the construction of dams on the Narmada River.
Baba Amte, a respected social activist known for his work with leprosy patients and advocacy for social justice, also supported the NBA’s cause. Although not directly involved in the leadership of the NBA, Baba Amte lent his moral support to the movement and spoke out against the displacement of communities caused by large dam projects.
The movement received the right livelihood award in 1991.The primary objectives of the Narmada Bachao Andolan were:
Environmental Concerns:
Raise concerns about the ecological impact of large dams on the Narmada River basin, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of the river’s natural flow and ecosystems.
Social Justice and Human Rights:
Highlight the displacement and resettlement of local communities, particularly indigenous and tribal populations, due to the construction of the dams.
Advocate for the recognition and protection of the rights of affected communities and demand fair compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement packages.
Economic Sustainability:
Question the economic viability and sustainability of large dam projects.
Advocate for alternative and sustainable water management and development strategies that prioritize local communities’ needs and livelihoods.
Role of the world bank -
The World Bank began working on the Narmada Project after it got clearance from the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal. The bank sent a team for the assessment of the project in economic and technical terms. This team didn’t focus on the social or environmental issues.What Jawaharlal Nehru thought of as temples of the independent India, i.e. The dams, have already displaced 11 million Indians. World Bank loan amount: $450 million (approximately INR 3,240 crores).
Medha Patkar and other protesters testified on the Bank’s role in Washington D.C in 1989. This led to a build-up of pressure on the Bank to set an independent review to assess the situation at hand. A lot of support was withdrawn from the project after this.
The Morse Commission was established to look into the construction of the dam, and the environmental cost and human displacement in 1991. For the first time, a Bank commissioned panel had complete access to the documents to form a report.The 357 pages’ report mentioned the lack of any environmental assessment undertaken either by the Indian Government or the World Bank. In an internal referendum held, the Bank very closely voted for the continuation of the Narmada Dam Project.
Latest updates on the movement -
The construction for dam begun in 1987, but the project was stalled by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 in the backdrop of Narmada Bachao Andolan over concerns of displacement of people. In 2000–01 the project was revived but with a lower height of 111 meters under directions from SC, which was later increased in 2006 to 123 meters and 139 meters in 2017. The Sardar Sarovar pDam is 1210 meters long. The dam was inaugurated in 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The water level in the Sardar Sarovar Dam eventually reached its highest capacity at 138.7 metres on 15 September 2019.
The Supreme Court brought curtains on a decade-old litigation started by the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar project on Narmada River as it directed payment of final compensation to the oustees, also paving way for the dam to operate at its full capacity.A bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar ordered payment of Rs 60 lakh each to 681 families in Madhya Pradesh who did not receive compensation towards purchase of land in lieu of the property they lost under the acquisition proceedings for the project.
