Environmental Law - Sardar Sarovar dam, overview

Things that are covered in this post

Narmda is 5th Largest river in India. It's length is roughly 1300 Km. 87% of it's length is in Madhya Pradesh. The plan was to build around 3000 dams.!!

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One of the most controversial project was Sardar Sarovar dam. It was dream of our first home minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. It all started by Nehru in 1961 by "bhumipujan"


 

 Brief History

Since river flown through 4 states, states started fighting for water share. To decide this dispute, Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal was setup in 1969. The decision of this tribunal came in 1979. After 10 years planning commission approved project and work kicked of in 1988. There was protest for environmental damage anticipated by Sardar Sarovar dam. In 1994 Court stayed the construction. Project was later revived in 1999 under supervision of Supreme Court

 

Benefits

Major benefits argued for pro construction party i.e Gujrat Government was irrigation, water for industries, water is water scarce Kutch and Saurashtra region. Court in judgement described the benefit as below: 


 

 Problems

Project was replete with various problems too. Few of them are rehabilitation of people, danger to forest, danger to wildlife, danger to people living on the bank of river. Affected people were mostly from backward communities.

 

 Key role played by Narmada Bachao Andolan, for rehabilitation. Their protest also made World Bank stop funding. This was lead by fiery social activist Medha Patkar. Other people who supported their cause is Baba Amte, Amir Khan.


 

 

Situation Today.

Water from Dam helped a million people. However total justice is not done with many.

People are yet to rehabilitate till date.  Only rehabilitation will not solve the problem. Since most are from backward community, they lost livelihood. They should be provided with livelihood.

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Major argument was that water will be used for farmer, but adequate water is not released for them sometime


 

 

Sometime, Industries are favored over common folks, villages and farmers

 

Also as water flow is stopped, people who rehabilitated nearby bank, or who already staying at bank continue to face danger.

 

 

Let's hope justice for all, from whom land is acquired, who have lost livelihood and those who lost their native environment.

Also hope the water is shared between farmers and industries, villages and cities equitably.

 

Thanks

 

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