The Narmada Dam Project was to construct 30 major, 135 medium and 3000 minor dams over Narmada river in Maharashtra, UP and Gujarat. It includes Sardar Sarovar Project which will irrigate 187 lakh hectares of land. 1450kW electricity will also be generated, but at what cost? 26000 hectares forest land and 11320 hectares of agricultural land will be submerged and 67000 people will be displaced. Most of these people are tribals. Government even if provides help for resettlement, the problem would not be solved.
These tribals can not adopt well in alien environment, as their culture is quite different. Providing agricultural land will also be of no use because many are not at all interested in agriculture. A distinct culture will be extinct. The leader of the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ is Medha Patkar who started movement against this project.
This andolan is against the exploitation of nature and violation of human rights. This is a project which is mythical in nature leading to ecological degradation.
Great article, thanks a lot.