Sardar Sarovar Project – A Summary

Why in news?

The Sardar Sarovar Dam was recently dedicated to the nation.

How has the project evolved?

• A small dam of 49.37m height was planned across Narmada in 1956 – but the project was subsequently dropped.
• The Sardar Sarovar Project was proposed in 1979, that envisioned a massive 138.68m  dam.
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• The project ran into controversy due to the enormous negative impact on communities and the ecosystem.
• While the barrier wall of the dam has just been declared open, only 33% of the project canals in Gujarat have been completed till now.

What are the controversies?

• Impact - Full reservoir capacity will cover 40,000 hectare and hence expels 244 villages and one township.
• About 10 lakh people involved in diverse economic activities would have to be displaced.
• Vast tracts of forest stare submergence.
• Prime agriculture land and at least a few thousand cattle in each village will be lost.
• NBA - “Narmada Bachao Andolan”  an NGO started an intense campaign against it.
• It elaborately documented the economic damages and the plight of the displaced.
• Its research on the environment & ecological implications of the project even won the applause of the apex court.  
• Court Rulings - While the project wasn’t stayed, Supreme court passed orders to address the greviences of the displaced.
• A Grievance Redressal Authority (GRA) was step up to receive complaints and pass directions to the state authority.
• Those entitled to land were sanctioned Rs.60 lakh compensation.
• SC also directed that all amenities, mandatory under law, should be in place at resettlement sites by June 2017 – an enormous task.

What is the plight of these being displaced?

• While the state & the GRA have defaulted considerably in facilitating smooth migration.
• Many of those eligible for compensation have not received them, but are facing pressure to shifting immediately nevertheless.
• Rehabilitation sites are also not ready — they do not have drinking water supply, drainage facilities and cattle grazing lands.
• They currently suffer harassment by the police and other government macheniry.

How can the future be better planned?

• Development of power plants, dams or government townships will all considerably contribute to the economy. 
• But the larger question that needs evaluation is that wether it is worth the socio-economic and ecological losses that it might cause. 
• In almost every major developmental project, there is little concern for compensation and mitigation like in Narmada’s case.
• Evolving systems for ensuring better rehabilitation is a prerequisite if the frutits of development is to be shared equitably. 

Source: The Hindu