Worries Over Displacements

If we see thoroughly, it is a clear-cut fact that dams and reservoirs provide economic and social benefits that contribute drastically to the management of water, which is becoming an inadequate resource. Nevertheless, these dams and reservoirs may have undesirable environmental and social impacts. The most challenging social impact of dams is the displacement of native people. This is one of the worst impacts of the dam construction on communities, people, all the families in the vicinity and even some villages that have been forced to leave their homes and relocate somewhere else. Therefore, there is tremendous pressure on the government for detailed and accurate assessments by experts to anticipate the socio-economic impacts. The dam affected and displaced people are more in number in Maharashtra than any other state.

Peasants in Maharashtra fought the first struggle against dams in early 1920s, which opposed the Mulshi dam built by the Tatas. Significantly, this is the first known movement organized by the dam-affected persons in India and throughout the world. However, for various reasons, this movement failed. Since then, the fight for survival of displaced people has continued. The venue might be different in the state but the pursuit to get justice is never-ending.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam was proposed in 1961 on the Narmada river near Navagam in Gujarat. It is the largest in a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi-purpose dams on the river. The dam has been the focal point of one of India’s largest public movements against mass displacement of farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous people living within the submergence area of the dam. The movement against the dam, known as Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), is led by social activist Medha Patkar.

Initially the government identified 2,000 families equivalent to about 1,50,000 people -- as affected in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Sardar Sarovar Dam’s construction was completed to its full height of 138.68 metres in 2017, and the NCA permitted filling the dam to its full capacity based on a clearance from its rehabilitation sub-group that all families had been rehabilitated. Thirty-three villages in Maharashtra were submerged, 4,300 families displaced. According to data from the Narmada Bachao Andolan, 4,135 families were resettled over the last 25 years. Efforts are under way to rehabilitate remaining families, this is a reply form the Maharashtra government for last two decades.

The most challenging social impact of the dam is the displacement of native people. During the vacation their ancestral land and houses were acquired by the government. They are still living in re -settlement. Government forcefully tried to shift them to villages. Some villagers, particularly the old people, succumbed to the strong-arm tactics. But still there are people who are relentlessly fighting for the cause. They categorically refused to move out of the submerged area.