A Report On The Sardar Sarovar Dam Project

SARDAR SARO'AR DAM Narmada means ever-delightful , one of the holiest rivers in the country of India They say that even the site of the river will cleanse all of your sins

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW The (armada River is )ndia*s +i+th ,on-est river. startin- in the centra, )ndian state o+ Madhya Pradesh and +,o/in- /est throu-h the states o+ Maharashtra and Gujarat to the Gu,+ o+ 0hambhat1 The Sardar Sarovar Dam is on,y one o+ a proposed thirty ,ar-e dams2ten to be bui,t on the (armada itse,+. and the rest on its tributaries1 )n addition to these 3! major dams. the (armada 'a,,ey Project a,so envisions 34 medium and 3.!!! minor dams1 Proposa,s +or dammin- the (armada have been around +or many decades but /ere de,ayed unti, the mid2 ei-hties because o+ po,itica, /ran-,in- over the sharin- o+ the costs and bene+its amon- the three Created by: states1 The dream o+ po,itica, ,eaders and p,annin- o++icia,s /ithin Gujarat +or many years. the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project +ina,,y commenced in #"51 Dam bui,din- is inte-ra, to )ndia*s deve,opment vision. /hich unti, recent,y /as mode,,ed on the Soviet sty,e centra,i6ed. state2,ed economic deve,opment /ith an emphasis on industria,i6ation1

Manish Gupta ( !!""! !#!$%&

INTRODUCTION Sardar Sarovar Project is one o+ the bi--est projects o+ )ndian -overnment /hich consists o+ more than 3!!! dams inc,udin- 3! bi- dams constructed on the river (armada. a .3 $ 7m river /hich +,o/s to/ards /est +rom Amar7anta7 in Madhya Pradesh. touchin- Maharashtra and endin- its course in Gujarat1 The SSP is a mu,tipurpose dam and cana, system8 its primary objectives are po/er -eneration. irri-ation and drin7in- /ater1 )t is situated in Gujarat1 )t is the

second bi--est o+ a,, the dams proposed on the (armada River and its cana, system is projected to be the ,ar-est in the /or,d1 Gujarat -ets most o+ the bene+its +rom this dam because the dam is situated in Gujarat on,y1 The tota, ,and /hich is submer-ed due to this project is 35.433 hectares /hich is primari,y a++ectin- the state o+ Madhya Pradesh (around 449& and a,so state o+ Maharashtra1

Sardar Sarovar /i,, comprise a %44 +eet2hi-h dam ( but it no/ stands at 3%! +eet&. a $ % 7i,ometer2,on- reservoir. a riverbed po/erhouse. po/er transmission ,ines. main cana,. cana, head po/erhouse. and an e:tensive irri-ation net/or71 The irri-ation envisa-ed sha,, be carried out throu-h an "!.!!!27i,ometer ,on- net/or7 o+ cana,s1 A,, this sha,, re;uire appro:imate,y "4.!!! hectares o+ ,and. comp,e: en-ineerin-. and immense resources1 As initia,,y p,anned the 7ey +eature o+ SSP /as to be a 3" meter hi-h dam across the (armada River in eastern Gujarat that is to provide irri-ation /ater +or 1" mi,,ion hectares and have hydropo/er insta,,ed capacity o+ .%4! me-a/atts1 <o/ /hat the )ndians re+er to as Resett,ement and Rehabi,itation /as to be carried out /as stipu,ated by the #5# report o+ the (armada =ater Disputes Tribuna, (the Tribuna,&1 >ecause the Project authorities have i-nored the Tribuna,?s provisions +rom the start. opposition be-an to bui,d up in the ear,y and mid2 #"!s1 Severa, (GOs /ere invo,ved1 )nitia,,y their main concern /as to improve the resett,ement process accordin- to the Tribuna, and the -uide,ines o+ the =or,d >an71 As it became increasin-,y c,ear that the po,itica, /i,, to underta7e a credib,e resett,ement pro-ram not on,y /as absent. but that the project authorities /ere /i,,in- to use the po,ice to harass project a++ected peop,e. the activities o+ a,, but one o+ the major (GOs shi+ted to opposition in the second ha,+ o+ the #"!s1 Since then opposition has stren-thened1 @irst,y. the +act that this project invo,ves +our states A Gujarat. MP. Maharashtra and Rajasthan A /ith the state o+ Gujarat receivin- most o+ the bene+its o+ the project have repeated,y ,ed to

disa-reements amon- the concerned states1 Second,y. the nature o+ )ndian /ater ,a/. /hich ma7es contro, over /ater ,ar-e,y a prero-ative o+ the States /ith some oversi-ht o+ the Centra, -overnment in inter2state matters. provided the bac7-round +or the settin- o+ comp,e: inter2state institutiona, machinery to oversee the deve,opment o+ the project1 This /as a,so the basis +or the settin- up o+ a specia, tribuna,. the (armada =ater Disputes Tribuna, ((=DT&. to adjudicate the c,aims o+ the concerned states1 Third,y. the invo,vement o+ the =or,d >an7 in the SSP /as a,so a ,andmar71 )t not on,y ,ed to the commissionin- o+ an independent en;uiry o+ an on2 -oinproject but a,so ,ed the ban7 to ta7e the unprecedented step o+ /ithdra/in- +rom a +unded project1 This /ithdra/a, had +urther si-ni+icant repercussions at the internationa, ,eve,1 )n particu,ar. it ,ed the =or,d >an7 to set up its +irst interna, accountabi,ity mechanism. the )nspection Pane,1 The SSP +iasco a,so constituted one o+ the tri--ers +or the settin- up o+ the =or,d Commission on Dams1 @ourth,y. the SSP is a,so a ,andmar7 project +rom the point o+ vie/ o+ socia, movements1 =hi,e it is no/ very ,i7e,y that the dam /i,, be comp,eted as projected by the project promoters. the /or7 underta7en by the (armada >achao Ando,an ((>A& and other or-anisations and individua,s in the conte:t o+ the SSP has had important impacts in )ndia and abroad1 Thus. to ta7e but one e:amp,e. be+ore the (>A brou-ht the issue o+ disp,acement to the +ore+ront o+ the po,icy a-enda. oustees had mere,y been seen as incidenta, costs o+ deve,opment. so much so that unti, the ear,y ##!s there /ere no +i-ures indicatin- the e:tent o+ disp,acement -enerated by projects1 Overa,,. re-ard,ess o+ /hether oustees are actua,,y resett,ed or not accordin- to the ,e-a, +rame/or7 put in p,ace and re-ard,ess o+ /hether the project eventua,,y +u,+i,s a,, the environmenta, and other conditions that have been set over time. the SSP /i,, remain a mi,estone that has si-ni+icant,y contributed to trans+ormin- and rede+inin- peop,e*s movements and activism in )ndia and abroad1 Throu-hout a-ricu,ture is dominated by +ood crops +or ,oca, consumption and sa,e1 Rain +ed a-ricu,ture. ,ivestoc7 mana-ement. and +ora-in-. comp,emented by +,ood recession a-ricu,ture and +ishin- a,on- the (armada. are the main vi,,a-e activities in the triba, areas1 Bpriver in Madhya Pradesh. /ea,thier peasants irri-ate their +ie,ds +rom /e,,s and by pumpin/ater +rom the (armada1 Crops are mar7eted ,oca,,y /ith >ad/ani (34.!!! in the mid2 #"!s& bein- the ,ar-est a++ected to/n1 =ithin the peasant vi,,a-es c,ass and caste divisions are even more pronounced in the (armada va,,ey than they are in the rest o+ the country . perhaps due to the midd,e (armada basin bein- re,ative,y iso,ated +rom the rest o+ )ndia1

SAC)D(T @DATBRDS O@ SARDAR SARO'AR PROEDCT I. LOCATION State District Ta,u7a River ))1 HYDROLOGY =atershed area o+ the river above dam site1 Mean annua, rain+a,, $!mm (%%1 ! inch1& %1 ! Mha m (331$! MA@& 313F Mha m ($51$$ MA@& $1%% Mha m ( #155 MA@& "5!!! Cumecs (3!15 ,a7h cusecs&

Gujarat (armada Rajpip,a ((andod& (armada ""!!! s; 7m (33#5! s;1mi,e&

Annua, run2o++ at dam site at 4!9 dependabi,ity at 549 dependabi,ity at #!9 dependabi,ity Desi-ned +,ood ( in !!! years& )))1 RESERVOIR

@u,, Reservoir Ceve, (FR ! Ma:imum =ater Ceve, (M=C& Minimum Dra/ Do/n Ceve, (MDDC& (onna, tai, =ater Ceve, ((T=C& Gross Stora-e Capacity Dead Stora-e Capacity Cive Stora-e Capacity Annua, evaporation Submer-ence at @RC (o1 o+ vi,,a-es a++ected Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Gujarat Tota,

3"1F" m (%44 +t& %!1$ m (%F! +t& !1F% m (3F3 +t& $41# m ("4 +t& !1#4 Mi,,ion ha m (515! MA@& !135 Mi,,ion ha m $1#5 MA@ !14" Mi,,ion ha m (%153 MA@& !1!F Mi,,ion ha m (!14 MA@& 3"1F"m(%44 +t& 35433 ha @u,, Partia, 2 3 % #$ 33 # $%%

(o1 o+ +ami,ies a++ected Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Gujarat Tota, )'1 DAM Type Cen-th Ma:imum hei-ht Top o+ dam DC Crest Spi,,/ays Service spi,,/ay Au:i,iar y spi,,/ay Crest -ates Type Si6e

33 !% 3F#" %5$" % %%! Concrete Gravity $ !1!$m F31!! m %F14! m DC $ 1#$ m $3 bays F! +t ( "13! m& each 5 bays F! +t ( "13! m& each

Radia, "13! m: F15F m ($3 (os1& "13! m: "13! m (5 (os& Constructiun siuices at DC1 i"1!m $1 ! m : $15% m ( ! (os& C,osed in @eb #% River s,uices at DC1 431!!m $14m : 31F m (% (os1& '1 POWER INSTALLATION (CHPH) Genera, Cocation Ri-ht ban7 (o1 o+ units 4 Rated capacity o+ each unit 4! M= )nsta,,ed capacity $4!M= Type o+ turbines 0ap,an (Conventiona,& Type o+ Po/er <ouse Sur+ace Turbine Rated speed 3F1% RPM Dia1 o+ runner %15 m Ma:1 head race ,eve, 3"1$! m Min1 head race ,eve, !1 " m Ma:1 tai, /ater ,eve, #41 ! m Min1 tai, /ater ,eve, #$1!5 m Output at %F1 3 m head (Ma:1& 4F1% M= Output at 3F m head (Desi-n& 4 1$F4 M= Output at "1 $ m head (Min1& "1454 M= Dischar-e at %F1 3 m head (Ma:1& 3414 Cumecs Dischar-e at 3F m head ( Desi-n& 451F Cumecs Dischar-e at "1 $ m head (Min1& "14 Cumecs

Generat r Generator rated output 4!144F M'A (4!M=& Ma:1 cant1 output F 1 M'A (44 M=& Cine vo,ta-e 1! G 49 0H Po/er @actor !1# (,a-& @re;uency 4!(G39& <6 ')1 POWER INSTALLATION (R!PH) Genera" Cocation (o1 o+ units Rated capacity o+ each unit )nsta,,ed capacity Type o+ turbines Type o+ Po/er <ouse Turbine Rated speed Dia o+ runner Ma:1 head race ,eve, Min1 head race ,eve, Ma:1 tai, /ater ,eve, Mi,,1 tai, /ater ,eve, Turbine M #e Output at F1F1F m head (Ma:1& Output at !! head (Desi-n& Output at 54 m head (Min1& Dischar-e at F1F m head (Ma:1& Dischar-e at !! m head (Desi-n& Dischar-e at 54 m head (Min1& Pu$%in& M #e )nput at % m head (Ma:1& )nput at !! m head (Desi-n& )nput at " m head (Min1& Dischar-e at % m head (Ma:1& Dischar-e at !! m head (Desi-n& Dischar-e at " m head (Min1& Generat r Generator rated output Cine vo,ta-e Po/er @actor (Generatin- Mode& Po/er @actor (Motorin- Mode& @re;uency Ri-ht >an7 F $!! M= $!! M= @rancis (Reversib,e& Bnder-round 3F13F 415 m 3"1F" m (@RC& !1F% m (MDDC& $41# m $!1"! m $$%1% M= $!% M= 3" M= $ $13 Cumecs $$514 Cumecs $ #1 Cumecs $!%14 M= $!#1$ M= $!514 M= F"1% Cumecs #514 Cumecs $331% Cumecs $$$1$$ M'A 31" G !9 0H !1# (,a-& !1#4 (,ead& 4! (I39 <6& RPM

VII. CA(AC SHSTDM @SC at head re-i,ator o+ main Cana, # 1%4 m (3!!+t& Type o+ Cana, Cined contour cana, Cen-th %4" 0m upto Rajasthan border and 5% 0m in Rajasthan >ase /idth in head reach 531 m @SD in head treach 51F m Dischar-e capacity in head reach 3$1F" cumecs (%!!!! cusecs& Gross Command Area (GCA& 3%1$"F ,a7h ha Cuturab,e Command Area (CCA& $ 1 #! ,a7h ha Annua, )rri-ation 51#$ ,a7h ha VIII. C 't ( R'. Cr re) Pri(e Le)e" ##F2#5JJ *+,-.,/0 Bnit 2 (Dam K Appurtenant /or7s& ! #1%4 %%53154 F!3F15"L Bnit2)) Main Cana, 4""14% %% !1!! 4$ F134 Bnit2))) <ydro Po/er =or7s #5#1#4 $ "%154 $5$"1!5 Group2)' >ranches K Dist1 System $" "1 ! "4!1!! %45"1 5 Tota, Cost o+ the Project F%!F1!% $$# "14! $"F 3135 1222.2*000

!ENE3ITS O3 SARDAR SAROVAR DAM WILD LI3E SANCTUARY

Many /i,d ,i+e centuries have been started in these areas ,i7e MShoo,paneshe/ar /i,d ,i+e sanctuaryM on ,e+t >an7. =i,d Ass Sanctuar y in ,itt,e Rann o+ 0achchh. >,ac7 >uc7 (ationa, Par7 at 'e,avadar. Great )ndian >ustard Sanctuary in 0achchh. (a, Sarovar >ird Sanctuary and A,ia >et at the mouth o+ River1

IRRIGATION

Sardar sarovar dam provides irri-ation +aci,ities to a ,ar-e area o+ ,and around the states o+ Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra1 )t provides irri-ation +aci,ities to "1%4 ,ac hectares o+ ,and. coverin- 3 $ vi,,a-es o+ 53 ta,u7as in 4 districts o+ Gujarat1 )t /i,, a,so irri-ate 54.!!! hectares o+ ,and in the strate-ic desert districts o+ >armer and Ea,,ore in Rajasthan and 35.4!! hectares in the triba, hi,,y tract o+ Maharashtr a throu-h ,i+t1 About 549 o+ the command area in Gujarat is drou-ht prone /hi,e entire command (54.!!! ha1& in Rajasthan is drou-ht prone1 Assured /ater supp,y /i,, soon ma7e this area drou-ht proo+1 DRIN4ING WATER SUPPLY

)t provides drin7in- /ater to a ,ar-e number o+ vi,,a-es and cities1 A particu,ar amount o+ /ater is provided +or drin7in- to around 34 urban centers and "$ 4 vi,,a-es (%49 o+ tota, " %% vi,,a-es o+ Gujarat& +or present popu,ation o+ " mi,,ion and prospective popu,ation o+ %! mi,,ion by $!$ 1 A,, the vi,,a-es and urban centers o+ arid re-ion o+ Saurashtra and 0achchh and a,, the vi,,a-es /ho have no source o+ /ater /ho ar e a++ected by drou-ht. sa,inity are bene+itted1 =ater +rom dam is a,so supp,ied to various industries to meet their demands /hich he,p in industria, deve,opment a,so1 POWER There are t/o po/er houses vi61 River bed po/er house and cana, head po/er house /ith an insta,,ed capacity o+ $!! M= and $4! M= respective,y1 Po/er deve,oped is shared by three states Madhya Pradesh 2 459. Maharashtra 2 $59 and Gujarat F91 This po/er is very much use+u, +or states /ho have very ,imited hyde, po/er production at present1 Apart +rom this severa, micro hyde, po/er stations are a,so insta,,ed on branch cana,s /here -ood amount o+ po/er can be produced1

3LOOD PROTECTION )t /i,, a,so provide +,ood protection to riverine reaches measurin- 3!.!!! hectares coverin- $ ! vi,,a-es and >haruch city and a popu,ation o+ %1! ,ac in Gujarat1

A Typica, 3" # C ntr " Da$ out+,o/ -raph )t /i,, a,so provide +,ood protection to riverine reaches measurin- 3!.!!! hectares coverin- $ ! vi,,a-es and >haruch city and a popu,ation o+ %1! ,ac in Gujarat1

OTHER !ENE3ITS >ene+its to sma,, and mar-ina, Schedu,ed CasteN Schedu,ed Tribe +armers /ou,d be as under : Mar-ina, +armers (O ha1& Sma,, +armers ( to $ ha1& Schedu,ed Tribe Schedu,ed Caste ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 3LOODING O3 NAURAL HA!ITATS @re;uent +,oodin- o+ natura, habitats ,eads to e:tinction o+ p,ants and anima,s1 The riverine +orests c,ose to the river are more prone to dama-e1 LOSS O3 TERRESTRIAL WILDLI3E The +i,,in- up o+ the hydroe,ectric reservoirs cause +,oods and many species o+ /i,d,i+e dro/n due to these +,oods $"1! 9 $%1%9 "159 #1 9

INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENTS Construction o+ hu-e hydroe,ectric projects ,eads to the disp,acement o+ the peop,e ,ivin- nearby1 These disp,acements cause -reat di+ +icu,ty to the peop,e as they have to adapt to ne/ surroundin-s1 DETERIORATION O3 WATER 5UALITY

The dammin- o+ rivers ,ead to reduced o:y-enation and di,ution o+ po,,utants in /ater causin/ater decay1 The ,ac7 o+ o:y-en and under/ater decay ma7e the /ater un+it +or drin7in-1 DOWNRIVER HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES There can be a vast chan-e in the ecosystem due to periodic + ,oodin-. /ater decay and other to:ins caused by the hydroe,ectric project1 River ed-e and coasta, corrosion are prone to occur and even the +ormation o+ rivers and estuaries are a++ected by the dam1 )nduced desiccation o+ river be,o/ dam a++ects the +,ora and +auna as they are hi-h,y dependent on the river1 WATER RELATED DISEASES Diseases such as ma,aria and typhoid o+ten occur in /arm c,imates and dense,y popu,ated re-ions near the dam1 The consumption o+ contaminated /ater can a,so ,ead to cho,era. dysentery etc1 3ISH AND OTHER A5UATIC LI3E <ydroe,ectric projects have ,ar-e e++ects on +ish and other a;uatic ,i+e1 )t has some positive e++ects such as increasin- the area o+ avai,ab,e a;uatic habitat /hich he,ps many +ishes to breed and deve,op1 Dven thou-h it has some -ood e++ects. the net impacts are o+ten ne-ative. some o+ the reason +or this are: 1 The path/ay +or upriver and do/nriver mi-ration is b,oc7ed1

$1 Many a;uatic species addicted to +,o/in- /ater cannot survive in arti+icia, ,a7es1 31 Chan-e in the river +,o/ pattern adverse,y a++ects many species1 %1 Chan-e in the /ater ;ua,ity (such as amount o+ o:y-en and other -ases& in or be,o/ reservoirs 7i,,?s +ish and dama-e other a;uatic habitats such as mo,,us7s. crustaceans and other benthic or-anisms /ith ,imited mobi,ity1 3LOATING A5UATIC VEGETATION @,oatin- a;uatic ve-etation can rapid,y mu,tip,y in reservoirs /ith sta-nant /ater. causinprob,em such as 1 De-radation o+ habitat +or a;uatic ,i+e $1 improved breedin- -round +or mos;uitoes and other parasites 31 restricted s/immin- and navi-ation %1 C,o--in- o+ e,ectro2mechanica, e;uipment at dams 41 )ncreased /ater ,oss +rom some reservoirs LOSS O3 CULTURAL PROPERTY Reservoirs basica,,y inundate /ho,e re-ion on /hich dam is bui,t thus causin- destruction and ,oss o+ cu,tura, property. archaeo,o-ica, property. and historica,. pa,eonto,o-ica, and re,i-ious sites such as (OM0ARDS<=AR&1 Sometimes it +,oods /ho,e city causin- ,oss o+ roads. houses and other thin-s1 )t is evident that the river (armada a,on- /ith its t/o ban7s and the adjoininre-ions had seen the ear,y men bust,e /ith activities1 )ndeed the entire re-ion bears traces o+ Cithic. )ron. and Copper and Cha,co,ithic cu,tures1 The (armada basins besides providin- she,ter to the Pre and Protohistoric man had a,so been the home o+ many ear,y )ndian dynasties1 Thus +,ourished the Mauryas. the Shun-as. the Guptas. the Pushyabhutis. the Gurjara Pratiharas. the Rashtra7utas. the 0a,achuris and Paramaras etc111 The arti+acts ,e+t by them made the entire re-ion a treasure house o+ anti;uities. a repository o+ di++er ent cu,tures. and a +act that a,/ays attracted the attention o+ the scho,ars1 Surveys. e:p,orations and e:cavations /ere carried out1 Much /as done by them but more remains to be done yet1 RESERVIOR SEDIMENTATION Over ,on- period o+ time. ,ive stora-e and po/er -eneration are reduced by reservoir sedimentation. such that much o+ some projects? hydroe,ectric ener-y mi-ht not be rene/ab,e over the ,on- term1 GREENHOUSE GASES

Greenhouse -ases (carbon dio:ide and methane& are re,eased into the atmosphere + rom reservoirs that +,ood +orests and other biomass. either s,o/,y (as +,ooded or-anic matter decomposes& or rapid,y (i+ the +orest is cut and burned be+ore reservoir +i,,in-&1 Greenhouse -ases are /ide,y considered to be the main cause o+ human2induced -,oba, c,imate chan-e1 Many hydroe,ectric reservoirs +,ood re,ative,y ,itt,e +orest or other biomass1 Moreover. most hydro projects -enerate su++icient e,ectricity to more than o++set the -reenhouse -ases /hich /ou,d other/ise have been produced by burnin- +ossi, +ue,s (natura, -as. +ue, oi,. or coa,& in po/er p,ants1 <o/ever. some projects /hich +,ood e:tensive +orest areas. such as the >a,bina Dam in Ama6onian >ra6i,. appear to emit -reenhouse -ases in -reater amounts than /ou,d be produced by burnin- natura, -as +or many years o+ comparab,e ACCESS ROADS As dams are usua,,y bui,t in hi,,y areas /hich are sparse,y popu,ated. the environmenta, impacts o+ access roads -enera,,y e:ceed that o+ the reservoir1 (e/ access roads invo,ve de+orestation and induce major ,and use chan-es /hich resu,ts in ,oss o+ biodiversity. acce,erated erosion and other environmenta, prob,ems1 Such an e:amp,e is o+ Arun )) in (epa,1 POWER TRANSMISSION LINES Po/er transmission ,ines o+ten resu,t in reduction and +ra-mentation o+ +orests so as to improve physica, access to them +or humans1 Thus they indirect,y +aci,itate +urther de+orestation1 Car-e birds are a,so sometimes 7i,,ed in co,,isions /ith po/er ,ines in mountainous re-ions. or sometimes by e,ectrocution1 5UARRIES AND !ORROW PITS <ydroe,ectric projects re;uire ;uarries and borro/ pits to provide materia,s +or construction o+ the dam and other comp,ementary /or7s1 Thus they decrease the area o+ natura, habitats and a-ricu,tura, ,ands /hich are ,ost to the project1

POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT LARGE DAMS MINIMISE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS DETERIORATION O3 WATER 5UALITY =ater po,,ution contro, measures (such as se/a-e treatment p,ants or en+orcement o+ industria, re-u,ations& may be needed to improve reservoir /ater ;ua,ity1 =here poor /ater ;ua,ity /ou,d resu,t +rom the decay o+ +,ooded biomass. se,ective +orest c,earin- /ithin the impoundment area shou,d be comp,eted be+ore reservoir +i,,in-1 LOSS O3 TERRESTRIAL WILDLI3E

)nstead o+ dro/nin-. the captured and re,ocated anima,s typica,,y starve. are 7i,,ed by competitors or predators. or +ai, to reproduce success+u,,y. due to the ,imited carryin- capacity their ne/ habitats1 =i,d,i+e rescue is most ,i7e,y to be justi+ied on conservation -rounds i+ (a& The species rescued are -,oba,,y threatened /ith e:tinction and (b& The re,ocation habitat is eco,o-ica,,y suitab,e and e++ective,y protected1 The most e++ective /ay to minimi6e /i,d,i+e morta,ity in hydroe,ectric projects is to choose dam sites /hich minimi6e the /i,d,i+e habitat +,ooded1 DOWNRIVER HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES These adverse impacts can be minimi6ed throu-h care+u, mana-ement o+ /ater re,eases1 Objectives to consider in optimi6in- /ater re,eases +rom the turbines and spi,,/ays inc,ude ade;uate do/nriver /ater supp,y +or riparian ecosystems. reservoir and do/nriver +ish surviva,. reservoir and do/nriver /ater ;ua,ity. a;uatic /eed and disease vector contro,. irri-ation and other human uses o+ /ater. do/nriver +,ood protection. recreation (such as /hite/ater boatin-&. and. o+ course. po/er -eneration1 Dnvironmenta, mana-ement p,ans +or hydroe,ectric projects shou,d speci+ y environmenta, /ater re,eases. inc,udin- +or dams o/ned or operated by the private sector1 WATER RELATED DISEASES Correspondin- pub,ic hea,th measures shou,d inc,ude preventive measures (such as a/areness campai-ns and /indo/ screens&. monitorin- o+ vectors and disease outbrea7s. vector contro,. and c,inica, treatment o+ disease cases. as needed1 Contro, o+ +,oatin- a;uatic /eeds near popu,ated areas can reduce mos;uito2borne disease ris7s1 3ISH AND OTHER A5UATIC LI3E Mana-ement o+ /ater re,eases may be needed +or the surviva, o+ certain +ish species. in and be,o/ the reservoir1 @ish passa-e +aci,ities (+ish ,adders. e,evators. or trap2and2truc7 operations& are intended to he,p mi-ratory +ish move upriver past a dam8 they are usua,,y o+ ,imited e++ectiveness +or various reasons (inc,udin- the di++icu,ty o+ ensurin- sa+e do/nriver passa-e +or many adu,ts and +ry&1 @ish hatcheries can be use+u, +or maintainin- popu,ations o+ native species /hich can survive but not success+u,,y reproduce /ithin the reservoir1 They are a,so o+ten used +or stoc7in- the reservoir /ith economica,,y desired species. a,thou-h introducin- non2native +ish is o+ten devastatin- to native species and not eco,o-ica,,y desirab,e1 @ishin- re-u,ation is o+ten essentia, to maintain viab,e popu,ations o+ commercia,,y va,uab,e species. especia,,y in the /aters immediate,y be,o/ a dam /here mi-ratory +ish species concentrate in hi-h numbers and are unnatura,,y easy to catch1 3LOATING A5UATIC VEGETATION Po,,ution contro, and pre2impoundment se,ective +orest c,earin- /i,, ma7e reservoirs ,ess conducive to a;uatic /eed -ro/th1 Physica, remova, or containment o+ +,oatin- a;uatic /eeds is

o+

e++ective1 =here compatib,e /ith other objectives (po/er -eneration. +ish surviva,. etc1&. occasiona, dra/do/n o+ reservoir /ater ,eve,s may be used to 7i,, a;uatic /eeds1 Chemica, poisonin- o+ /eeds or re,ated insect pests re;uires much environmenta, caution and is usua,,y best avoided1 LOSS O3 CULTURAL PROPERTY Structures and objects o+ cu,tura, inter est shou,d under-o sa,va-e /herever +easib,e throu-h scienti+ic inventory. care+u, physica, re,ocation. and documentation and stora-e in museums or other appropriate +aci,ities1 <o/ever. it is o+ten not possib,e to rep,ace the ,oss o+. or dama-e to. uni;ue or sacred sites /hich may have -reat re,i-ious or ceremonia, si-ni+icance to indi-enous or other ,oca, peop,e1 RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION )+ e++ective,y imp,emented. /atershed mana-ement can minimi6e sedimentation and e:tend a reservoir?s use+u, physica, ,i+e. throu-h the contro, o+ road construction. minin-. a-ricu,ture. and other ,and use in the upper catchment area1 Protected areas are sometimes estab,ished in upper catchments to reduce sediment +,o/s into reservoirs1 Aside +rom /atershed mana-ement. other sediment mana-ement techni;ues +or hydroe,ectric reservoirs may at times be physica,,y and economica,,y +easib,e8 they inc,ude. amon- others. upstream chec7 structures. protectin- dam out,ets. reservoir +,ushin-. mechanica, remova,. and increasin- the dam?s hei-ht1 ACCESS ROADS The sitin- o+ any ne/ access roads shou,d be in the environmenta,,y and socia,,y ,east dama-incorridors1 @orests and other environmenta,,y sensitive areas a,on- the chosen road corridor shou,d receive ,e-a, and on2the2-round protection1 Road en-ineerin- shou,d ensure proper draina-e. to protect /ater/ays and minimi6e erosion1 Dnvironmenta, ru,es +or contractors (inc,udin- pena,ties +or noncomp,iance& shou,d cover construction camp sitin-. -rave, e:traction. /aste disposa,. avoidin- /ater po,,ution. /or7er behavior (such as no huntin-&. and other construction practices1 POWER TRANSMISSION LINES Po/er ,ines shou,d be sited to minimi6e these concerns and bui,t usin- -ood environmenta, practices (as /ith roads&1 )n areas /ith concentrations o+ vu,nerab,e bird species. the top (-roundin-& /ire shou,d be made more visib,e /ith p,astic devices1 D,ectrocution (main,y o+ ,ar-e birds o+ prey& shou,d be avoided throu-h bird2+riend,y to/er desi-n and proper spacin- o+ conductin- /ires1 ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS The Sardar Sarovar Dam Project a++ected peop,e*s economic security in some very +undamenta, /ays1 Many peop,e /ho /ere direct,y disp,aced as a resu,t o+ the project received no economic

compensation /hatsoever1 Peop,e /ho /ere disp,aced as a resu,t o+ the cana, system. +or e:amp,e. /ere not considered to be cover ed under the #5# (armada =ater Disputes Tribuna, ru,in- concernin- Moustees.M and thus /ere not deemed to be entit,ed to resett,ement1 )ndeed. many received ,itt,e or no compensation +or ,and ,ost. and no compensation +or other r esources. such as +ruit trees. destroyed by the Sardar Sarovar project1 @or those /ho /ere supposed to be covered under the resett,ement and rehabi,itation pro-ram. there /ere sti,, many +orms o+ economic victimi6ation1 Many. i+ not most. o+ the peop,e to be disp,aced by the deve,opment project /ere triba, MencroachersM on state ,and because they he,d no ,e-a, tit,e to that ,and1 >oth the state o+ Maharashtra and the state o+ Madhya Pradesh chose to interpret the Tribuna, ru,in- re-ardinMousteesM to mean that on,y those /ith +orma, tit,e to ,and. and their adu,t sons. /ou,d be -iven ,and +or ,and. despite the +act that this /ou,d ma7e triba, peop,e. /ho ho,d their ,and by customary usa-e. ,and,ess oustees 1 =hat must be understood here is that ,and,essness is an economic disaster +or these peop,e*s /e,,2bein- since ,and is their source o+ subsistence and 7no/,ed-e o+ their ,oca, environment is their major s7i,,1 As the (armada Contro, Authority stated in #"%. M@or triba,. there is no rehabi,itation more e++ective than providin- ,and as the source o+ ,ive,ihoodM1 Dven +or those /ho are covered under the resett,ement and rehabi,itation se-ment o+ the deve,opment project. their economic security /as in many cases jeopardi6ed. even to the point o+ disp,acin- some +ami,y members +rom one mode o+ production (that o+ cu,tivator& to another. more insecur e. mode o+ production (that o+ /a-e earner&1 )n many cases. ,and /hich /as -iven /as too ,itt,e or o+ poorer ;ua,ity1 )n addition. the resett,ement and rehabi,itation po,icy did not reco-ni6e other aspects o+ economic ,ive,ihoods1 )t did not ta7e into account economic practices such as +ishin-. pastora,ism. and -atherin-1 A,so. the ,eve,s o+ economic productivity /hich resu,t +rom ,oca, environmenta, and cu,tura, 7no/,ed-e has been. + or the most part. i-nored1 (or did the po,icy proper,y ta7e into account the +orms o+ economic security that arise as a resu,t o+ peop,e*s socia, ties2MP peop,e attribute their economic security to a ,on- estab,ished /eb o+ human and -eo-raphica, ,in7s /ithin their communityM1 These ,in7s 6 o+ course. /ou,d be destroyed /here the community /as not resett,ed as a /ho,e1 Perhaps most important,y. ho/ever. is the +act that even in the best case scenario +or r esett,ement and rehabi,itation. the process o+ disp,acement precedes that o+ re,ocation and rehabi,itation1 )n other /ords. there is that period o+ time /herein peop,e are ,ivin- a transitory. doub,e e:istence1 There are re,ocation costs /hich o+ten have to be paid out be+ore compensation is -iven1 There is a,so a readjustment period. /herein ,and must be made ready to cu,tivate. and the -enera, ;uir7s o+ a ne/ and di+ +erent environment adjusted to1 >avis7ar -ives an e:amp,e o+ one aspect o+ the transitionary impact that the Sardar Sarovar Project had on Anjanvara. the vi,,a-e she had ,ived in just prior to the dam project: A hand2pump +or the vi,,a-e /as sanctioned severa, years a-o. but never insta,,ed because the vi,,a-e ,ies in the submer-ence 6one o+ the dam1 So the ,ast +e/ years and the present have been he,d captive to an uncertain +uture1 A,, o+ these transitionary prob,ems ne-ative,y impact on economic security1 )n some cases. they may even prove to cause yet +urther disp,acement in the +uture1 CULTURE

Many o+ these peop,e are a,so victimi6ed in terms o+ their cu,tura, /e,,2bein-1 Perhaps the most important means o+ cu,tura, victimi6ation is the po,icy stance ta7en by both the state o+ Maharashtra and the state o+ Madhya Pradesh1 MOusteesM have the choice o+ bein- resett,ed /ithin their o/n state. but +or many there is very ,itt,e in the /ay o+ a rea, choice1 Most MousteesM in these t/o states /ou,d be considered ,and,ess oustees (e,i-ib,e on,y +or a house ,ot& because they ho,d no ,e-a, tit,e to ,and1 <o/ever. in the state o+ Gujarat they /ou,d be -iven a minimum o+ $ hectares o+ ,and1 A,so. the state o+ Gujarat has more ,and avai,ab,e in ,ar-er sections. a,,o/in- +or the potentia, o+ at ,east some +ami,ies or community -roups to resett,e to-ether /orse and >er-er1 <o/ever in cu,tura, terms. resett,in- in Gujarat is a ,oss1 @or many it /ou,d mean movin- a/ay +rom other important +ami,y and other socia, ties1 As /e,,. ,an-ua-e /ou,d become even more o+ a barrier. since +e/ triba, men and no triba, /omen 7no/ ,an-ua-es other than their o/n and even then it /ou,d be on,y the o++icia, ,an-ua-e o+ the state that they ,ive in1 Resett,ement threatens to cu,tura,,y victimi6e peop,e in other /ays1 These disp,aced peop,e must adapt their ,i+esty,e in that they are o+ten Mmovin- +rom re,ative iso,ation and independence to a hi-h de-ree o+ dependence on pub,ic institutions and services to protect a-ainst disastrous conse;uences o+ the moveM1 A,so. the caste system and a -enera, ,ac7 o+ socia, ties has meant that +or those resett,ed. there is a,most a,/ays ,itt,e in the /ay o+ socia, bondin/ith other estab,ished communities in the area. ,eadin- to socia, iso,ation1 )n a,, cases /here peop,e have resett,ed. they have e:pressed a +ee,in- o+ ,oss over ,eavin- their home and their -ods1 )nc,uded in this ,ist o+ ,osses are even the basics o+ privacy2many /omen /ho /ere intervie/ed bemoaned the ,oss o+ privacy that the +orest provides +or bathin- and per+ormintheir Mab,utionsM1 HEALTH The physica, and psycho,o-ica, /e,,bein- o+ a,, o+ those /ho e:perienced a drop in the standard o+ their ,ivin- /ou,d potentia,,y be threatened as a resu,t o+ the resett,ement process1 As discussed ear,ier. the ,oss o+ one*s cu,ture. p,ace. and economic security /ou,d certain,y a++ect psycho,o-ica, /e,,2bein-1 And in many cases. even a temporary drop in economic ,ive,ihood cou,d resu,t in a ,oss o+ access to an ade;uate and nutritious diet. /hich /ou,d especia,,y a++ect the hea,th o+ the very youn-1 M)n #"". the Tata )nstitute reported unusua,,y hi-h morta,ity rates amon- Manibe,i oustees. especia,,y chi,dren. +or the +irst years o+ re,ocationM1 Stress and an:iety /hich /ou,d resu,t simp,y +rom the anticipation o+ havin- to move cou,d ;uite possib,y have both physica, and psycho,o-ica, e++ects1 )n addition. many o+ the resett,ed areas are ,ac7in- in basic in+rastructure. such as /or7in- /ater pumps and proper. com+ortab,e housinECONOMIC IMPACTS O3 SARDAR SAROVAR DAM The +irst and the +oremost is that Sardar Sarovar c,aims to but cannot so,ve the /ater crisis o+ Gujarat1 The project is p,anned8 they c,aim to irri-ate % 9 o+ Gujarat*s cu,tivatab,e ,and and to supp,y drin7in- /ater to "$ 4 vi,,a-es and 34 to/ns and cities in Gujarat1 )t is pertinent to note here that the c,aimed SSP command area inc,udes on,y #1$%9 cu,tivab,e ,and o+ Saurashtra and 149 cu,tivab,e ,and o+ 0utch1 Drin7in- /ater is an aspect 2 they have be-un pub,icisin- much more durin- the ,ast t/o to three years than be+ore since the other bene+its have been e:posed to be un+ounded1 And yet. you may

be shoc7ed to 7no/ that not one paisa is a,,ocated +or /ater supp,y (,i+tin- pipe,ine etc1& in Sardar Sarovar Project1 This c,ear,y indicates the Government?s priority +or drin7in- /ater bene+its /hich are ,e+t to the most,y ban7rupt Gram2Panchyats and Municipa, counci,s as /e,, as +or corporations to imp,ement1 The +act is that drin7in- /ater. as /as stated in the Gujarat*s proposa, to the (armada =ater Dispute Tribuna, ((=DT& /as never a priority or p,anned bene+it +or the rura, Gujarat1 On,y the Municipa, areas /ere to receive some /ater a,on- /ith industries therein (the combined ma-nitude bein- about one ninth o+ Gujarat*s share +rom SSP. not even c,ear,y divided into t/o sub2cate-ories&1 The number o+ vi,,a-es said to be receivindrin7in- /ater is s/o,,en mere,y on po,itica, -rounds. inc,udin- a,, vi,,a-es. in 0utch and Saurashtra. /ithout any basis. neither any chan-e in a,,ocation o+ /ater nor +inances1 The disp,acement created by the dam has a number o+ direct and indirect impacts1 A ,ar-e number o+ +ami,ies /ere disp,aced but there /as no +i:ed estimate about the e:act number o+ +ami,ies /ho /ere disp,aced1 The +i-ure 7ept on risin-1 The state -overnments /ere not havinenou-h ,and to resett,e disp,aced peop,e nor /ere they havin- enou-h +unds to buy ,and1 Madhya Pradesh state /as severe,y a++ected by this prob,em1 So the case o+ resett,ement /as +ai,ure to ,ar-e e:tent in case o+ SSP1 <o/ever the a++ected +ami,ies /hich have been provided resett,ement and rehabi,itation /ere provided /ith the +o,,o/in-:2 Resett,ement and Rehabi,itation Pac7a-e +or Project A++ected @ami,ies $ hectar es irri-ab,e A-ricu,ture ,and1 Residentia, p,ot o+ 4!! S;1 Mts1 Assistance o+ Rs1 %4!!!N2 +or the construction o+ house1 Subsistence a,,o/ance o+ Rs1 %4!!N21 Assistance o+ Rs15!!!N2 +or procurin- productive assets ,i7e bu,,oc7s and a-ricu,tura, e;uipment?s1 Resett,ement -rant o+ Rs1 54!N21 Street ,i-ht and interna, e,ectri+ication o+ 14 point +ree o+ cost in Core <ouse1 Persona, accident insurance etc1 A schoo, and chi,dren*s par7 in each resett,ement site1 Dispensary in each site /here MP and M< oustees are resett,ed1 Since there /as de,ay in the startin- o+ the Sardar sarovar project there+ore it caused a hu-e ,oss to the )ndian -overnment1 Dar,ier /hen the project /as started the authority o++icia,s c,aimed that si,tation is not -ointo cause much prob,em in this project1 >ut /hen the project started then the amount o+ si,tation /as very much as compared to /hat predicted be+ore so the -overnment decided to -et rid o+ this prob,em as this decreased the ener -y production /hich a,so costed a ,ot to the )ndian Government1

CONTROVERSIES O3 SARDAR SAROVAR DAM Nar$a#a Stru&&"e 7 3a(t S8eet 92 !i& Da$'6 *9: Me#iu$ Da$'6 9222 S$a"" Da$' Hei&8t ; Sar#ar Sar )ar Da$ 7 <:: ;eet !ene;it' 7 Irri&ati n6 E"e(tri(it= !ene;i(iarie' 7 In#u'trie' an# ri(8 ;ar$er' Di'%"a(e$ent 7 <22222 triba"' an# $ar&ina" ;ar$er' Sub$er&en(e Area . 9-6222 8a Current Hei&8t . 9<2 ;eet Statu' ; Re8abi"itati n 7 :2222 ;a$i"ie' in nee# ; re8abi"itati n

Ru7e na jo Ru7e na jo. jhu7e na jo. dabe na jo. mite na jo. <um /ho in;ui,ab hein. ju,m 7a ja/ab hein1 (Cines used durin- protest& Controversy over the dam projects on the (armada. a river runnin- throu-h centra, )ndia and the a:is o+ ,i+e +or count,ess rura, and triba, communities ,ivin- on its ban7s. erupted in the nascent sta-es o+ p,annin- and sho/s ,itt,e si-n o+ recedin-1 Son-s ,i7e the one above. sun- at community -atherin-s pr otestin- the dams. underscore the de+iance. r eso,ution. and an-er o+ a peop,e +orced to ,ive in uncertainty +or decades1 The (armada >achao Ando,an (Save the (armada Movement&. /hich is spearheadin- the protest. says the project /i,, disp,ace more than $!!.!!! peop,e apart +rom dama-in- the +ra-i,e eco,o-y o+ the re-ion1 (>A activists say the dams /i,, submer-e +orest +arm,and. disrupt do/nstream +isheries and possib,y inundate and sa,inate ,and a,on- the cana,s. increasin- the prospect o+ insect2borne diseases1 Some scientists have added to the debate sayin- the construction o+ ,ar-e dams cou,d cause earth;ua7es1 They say that in a country as disor-anised as )ndia. it is ,i7e,y that the necessary maintenance o+ these dams may su++er1 >ut those in +avour o+ the project say that the project /i,, supp,y /ater to 3!m peop,e and irri-ate crops to +eed another $!m peop,e1 )n /hat /as seen as a major victory +or the anti2dam activists. the =or,d >an7 /ithdre/ +rom the (armada project in ##31

Severa, other internationa, +inancia, institutions a,so pu,,ed out citin- human and environmenta, concerns1 The construction o+ Sardar Sarovar dam itse,+ /as stopped soon a+ter/ards1 G a8ea# <o/ever. in October $!!!. the )ndian Supreme Court -ave a -o2ahead +or the construction o+ the dam1 The court ru,ed that the hei-ht o+ the dam cou,d be raised to $ 1#$ metres and no hi-her. unti, c,eared by an environmenta, authority appointed to underta7e the tas71 This is +ar be,o/ the proposed hei-ht o+ 3! metres. but hi-her than the "" metres that the anti2dam activists /ant1 Opponents o+ the dam ;uestion the basic assumptions o+ the (armada 'a,,ey Deve,opment P,an and be,ieve that its p,annin- is unjust and ini;uitous and the cost2bene+it ana,ysis is -ross,y in+,ated in +avour o+ bui,din- the dams1 They c,aim that the p,ans rest on untrue and un+ounded assumptions o+ hydro,o-y and seismicity o+ the ar ea and the construction is causin- ,ar-e sca,e abuse o+ human ri-hts and disp,acement o+ many poor and underprivi,e-ed communities1 They a,so be,ieve that /ater and ener -y can be provided to the peop,e o+ the (armada 'a,,ey. Gujarat and other re-ions throu-h a,ternative techno,o-ies and p,annin- processes /hich can be socia,,y just and economica,,y and environmenta,,y sustainab,e1 They c,aim that ,ar-e numbers o+ poor and underprivi,e-ed communities (most,y triba,s and da,its& are bein- dispossessed o+ their ,ive,ihood and even their /ays o+ ,ivin- to ma7e /ay +or dams bein- bui,t Car-e dams imp,y ,ar-e bud-ets +or re,ated projects ,eadin- to ,ar-e pro+its +or a sma,, -roup o+ peop,e1 A mass o+ research sho/s that even on pure,y technica, -rounds. ,ar-e dams have been co,ossa, +ai,ures1 =hi,e they have de,ivered on,y a +raction o+ their purported bene+its. they have had an e:treme,y devastatin- e++ect on the riverine ecosystem and have rendered destitute ,ar-e numbers o+ peop,e (/hose entire sustenance and modes o+ ,ivin- are centred on the river&1 @or no ,ar-e dam in )ndia has it been sho/n that the resett,ed peop,e have been provided /ith just compensation and rehabi,itation1 Critics say that Sardar Sarovar ta7es up over "!9 o+ Gujarat?s irri-ation bud-et but has on,y 1F9 o+ cu,tivab,e ,and in 0utch. #9 o+ cu,tivab,e ,and in Saurashtra and $!9 cu,tivab,e ,and in (orth Gujarat in its command area1 Moreover. these areas are at the tai,2end o+ the command and /ou,d -et /ater on,y a+ter a,, the ar ea a,on- the cana, path -et their share o+ the /ater. and that too a+ter $!$! AD1 )n summary. they +ear that a,, avai,ab,e indicators su--est that these needy areas are never -oin- to bene+it +rom the Sardar Sarovar Project1 So as the anti2dam activists ponder their ne:t move. the -overnment has started a-ain /ith construction o+ the Sardar Sarovar dam1 PROTESTS The dam is one o+ )ndia*s most controversia, dam projects and its environmenta, impact and net costs and bene+its are /ide,y debated1 The =or,d >an7 /as initia,,y a +under o+ the SSD. but /ithdre/ in ##%1 The (armada Dam has been the center o+ controversy and protest since the ,ate #"!s1

(armada >achao Ando,an ((>A& is a non2-overnmenta, or-anisation ((GO& that mobi,ised triba, peop,e. adivasis. +armers. environmenta,ists and human ri-hts activists a-ainst the Sardar Sarovar Dam bein- bui,t across the (armada River. Gujarat. )ndia1 Their mode o+ campai-n inc,udes hun-er stri7es and -arnerin- support +rom noted +i,m and art persona,ities (notab,y >o,,y/ood +i,m actor Aamir 0han&1 (armada >achao Ando,an. to-ether /ith its ,eadin- spo7espersons Medha Pat7ar and >aba Amte. /ere the ## recipient o+ the Ri-ht Cive,ihood A/ard1 (armada >achao Ando,an is the voice o+ hundreds o+ thousands o+ indi-enous peop,e and peasants /ho are ,osin- their ,and and ,ive,ihoods to ,ar-e dams on the (armada River1 The nonvio,ent satya-raha (insistence on truth& o+ the disp,aced peop,e +or their rehabi,itation has spanned t/o decades. cha,,en-in- the centra,i6ed deve,opment pro-rams and envisionina,ternatives1 The movement has /on po,icy chan-es in =or,d >an7 and other mu,ti2,atera, +undin- a-encies1 The demands o+ (>A inc,ude ,and2+or2,and rehabi,itation o+ the disp,aced peop,e and e;uitab,e distribution o+ natura, resources and bene+its o+ such projects1 There /ere a ,ot o+ protests re-ardin- the dam. the protest by Medha Pat7ar. the ,eader o+ the M(armada >achao Ando,anM the MSave (armada Movement1 The movement /as cemented in #"#. and /as a/arded the Ri-ht Cive,ihood A/ard in ## 1 Protests a,so came +rom )ndian

author Arundhati Roy. /ho /rote the e:tended essay MThe Greater Common GoodM in protest o+ the (armada Dam Project1 =hi,e its resett,ement re;uirements. such as resett,ement and rehabi,itation si: months be+ore inundation. continued to be i-nored by the project authorities. the main response o+ the Supreme Court durin- $!! /as to issue contempt notices to the most prominent opposition ,eaders /hen they ;uestioned the Court?s decision1 A-ain outra-e /as e:pressed by di++erent ,eve,s o+ )ndian society as /e,, as by such prominent outsiders as author Sa,man Rushdie /ho as7ed in an Au-ust 5. $!! (e/ Hor7 Times artic,e Can it be that the Supreme Court o+ the /or,d?s ,ar-est democracy /i,, revea, itse,+ to be biased a-ainst +ree speech and be prepared to act the biddin- o+ a po/er+u, interest -roup Q a coa,ition o+ po,itica, and +inancia, interests behind the (armada DamR Construction /or7 on the Sardar Sarovar Dam site. /hich had continued sporadica,,y since #F . be-an in earnest in #""1 At the time. nobody. not the Government. nor the =or,d >an7 /ere a/are that a /oman ca,,ed Medha Pat7ar had been /anderin- throu-h the vi,,a-es s,ated to be submer-ed. as7in- peop,e /hether they had any idea o+ the p,ans the Government had in store +or them1 =hen she arrived in the va,,ey a,, those years a-o. opposin- the construction o+ the dam /as the +urthest thin- +rom her mind1 <er chie+ concern /as that disp,aced vi,,a-ers shou,d be resett,ed in an e;uitab,e. humane /ay1 )t -radua,,y became c,ear to her that the Government*s intentions to/ards them /ere +ar +rom honourab,e1 >y #"F /ord had spread and each state had a peop,es* or-anisation that ;uestioned the promises about resett,ement and rehabi,itation that /ere bein- bandied about by Government o++icia,s1 )t /as on,y some years ,ater that the +u,, e:tent o+ the horror 2 the impact that the dams /ou,d have. both on the peop,e /ho /ere to be disp,aced and the peop,e /ho /ere supposed to bene+it 2 be-an to sur+ace1 The (armada 'a,,ey Deve,opment Project came to be 7no/n as )ndia*s Greatest P,anned Dnvironmenta, Disaster1 The various peop,es* or-anisations massed into a sin-,e or-anisation and the (armada >achao Ando,an 2 the e:traordinary (>A 2 /as born1 )n September $!! the Government o+ Maharashtra a-reed under pressure to set up a Eoint Tas7 @orce on resett,ement /ith (>A and other non2-overnmenta, members1 The Tas7 @orce?s $!!$ report conc,uded that resett,ement /as incomp,ete /ith 3. !! +ami,ies yet to be physica,,y re,ocated as re;uired. /hi,e rehabi,itation /as incomp,ete +or the 4!! +ami,ies that had moved1 Het in May $!!$ the dam /as +urther hei-htened to #4 meters1 Risin- /aters durin- the Eu,y2 September monsoon devastated crops and houses in sti,, to be resett,ed vi,,a-es1 @urther i-norinnoncomp,iance /ith its re;uirements. in September $!!$ the Supreme Court c,osed the door to +urther ,e-a, cha,,en-es by dismissin-. /ithout revie/in- the issues. a (>A case cha,,en-in- the ,e-a,ity o+ raisin- the hei-ht o+ the dam beyond #! meters1 The +o,,o/in- May $!!3. +urther hei-htenin- to !! meters /as approved1 The $!!3 monsoon be-an /ith heavy rains in Eu,y /ith +,oodin- /orsened /hen /ater /as re,eased +rom the upriver Ta/a Dam1 >y the end o+ Au-ust. over $.!!! yet to be resett,ed +ami,ies had been adverse,y a++ected by +,oodin-1 3.!!! o+ those +ami,ies ,ived in Maharashtra?s 33 a++ected vi,,a-es8 !.!!! +ami,ies ,ived in over "! vi,,a-es in Madhya Pradesh1 Throu-hout the $!!!2$!!3 periods. the project authorities made promises to carry out their ,e-a,,y re;uired R K R responsibi,ities on,y a+ter +astin- threatened the ,ives o+ protestors. inc,udin- Medha Pat7ar in both $!!$ and $!!3. or a+ter visits by prominent persons1 Once +asts ended and visitors ,e+t promises /ere either i-nored or dea,t /ith in a to7en +ashion1

)n the mean/hi,e. po,ice in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh continued to abuse vi,,a-e and (GO protestors /hi,e the three -overnments continued to deny bene+its to cate-ories o+ peop,e covered by the Tribuna,1 The situation reported +rom Chima,7hedi 'i,,a-e in Maharastra i,,ustrates the unacceptab,e behaviour o+ -overnment personne, inc,udin- the po,ice1 Durin- the $!!3 monsoon. the vi,,a-e became an is,and surrounded by +,ood/ater1 Since houses and some +ie,ds had not been inundated. the vi,,a-ers /ere denied resett,ement bene+its1 @earin- bad pub,icity i+ some dro/ned. the po,ice arrested and removed 5% peop,e and had some o+ their houses destroyed /hi,e they /er e absent1 3 Across the (armada in Madhya Pradesh. the Government. c,aimin- no ,and /as avai,ab,e. continued to pressure vi,,a-ers to accept cash compensation in vio,ation o+ both the terms o+ the Tribuna, and the Supreme Court1 >y the end o+ the $! century. the (armada River has become a symbo, +or t/o cu,tures in con+,ict that th advocate very di++erent +utures +or the )ndian sub2continent1 The +irst supports a +ree +,o/inriver /ithout dams. /ith ,ivin- standards to be raised by a /ide ran-e o+ community2based initiatives /ith centra, and state -overnment and (GO assistance1 The second. be,ievin- the +,o/ o+ monsoon rains into the Arabian Sea to be a /aste. ta7es the ,ar-e project approach1 )t advocates the most ambitious pro-ram o+ river basin deve,opment in )ndian history and perhaps in the /or,d1 Arisin- re,ative,y recent,y. the con+,ict bet/een these t/o visions has become a major nationa, issue. /ith internationa, imp,ications. that has invo,ved the Supreme Court o+ )ndia as /e,, as the current President and various Prime Ministers1 These con+,ictin- visions +or the (armada?s +uture arose on,y recent,y because o+ the ear,ier inabi,ity o+ the three states to a-ree on ho/ the (armada?s /ater r esources shou,d be divided bet/een them1 As in other river basins throu-hout )ndia. ambitious deve,opment p,ans had been dra/n up in the #4!s and #F!s1 <avin- +ai,ed in previous attempts to adjudicate an a-reement bet/een the states. the Government o+ )ndia appointed a (armada =ater Disputes Tribuna, (the Tribuna,& in the ,ate #F!s1 ),,ustratin- the comp,e:ities invo,ved. it too7 the Tribuna, over ten years to produce a +ina, report in #5# that /as acceptab,e to the three states. p,us Rajasthan /hich /as to bene+it +rom receipt o+ irri-ation /ater1 (ot on,y did the Tribuna,?s Report a,,ocate bene+its and +inancia, costs +or SSP bet/een the +our states. but it a,so detai,ed the conditions under /hich resett,ement +rom the reservoir basin /as to be carried out1 Gujarat as the main bene+iciary /ou,d be responsib,e +or a,, resett,ement costs as /as the case /ith D-ypt in connection /ith the As/an <i-h Dam1 The report?s provisions /ere to be ,e-a,,y bindin- on the +our states +or a +orty2+ive year period1 HEIGHT ISSUES

)n @ebruary ###. the Supreme Court o+ )ndia -ave the -o ahead +or the dam*s hei-ht to be raised to "" m +rom the initia, "! m1 )n October $!!! a-ain. in a $ to majority jud-ment in the Supreme Court. the -overnment /as a,,o/ed to construct the dam up to #! m1 )n May $!!$. the (armada Contro, Authority approved increasin- the hei-ht o+ the dam to #4 m1 )n March $!!%. the Authority a,,o/ed a 4 m hei-ht increase to ! m1 )n March $!!F. the (armada Contro, Authority -ave c,earance +or the hei-ht o+ the dam to increase +rom !1F% m to $ 1#$ m1 This proposa, /as dec,ined by the Supreme Court1 There /as a hun-er stri7e conducted by (arendra Modi due to the -overnment a,,o/inthe increase o+ the hei-ht o+ the dam1 The increasin- hei-ht on,y ,ed to the increase in disp,acement o+ peop,e1 W8= M #i;= Sar#ar Sar )ar Pr >e(t b= (8 'in& t8er a"ternati)e' t t8e %r >e(t? Gujarat has e:perienced very catastrophic earth;ua7es o+ ver y hi-h ma-nitude on the Richter sca,e and the dama-in- conse;uences o+ >huj earth;ua7e are simi,ar to those caused by catastrophic <ima,ayan Darth;ua7es1 The Sardar Sarovar project bein- ,ocated over a major +au,t 6one surrounded by severa, ,ineaments. major earth;ua7es are bound to occur in the dam area durin- its ,i+e time /hen the dam may e:perience +issures simi,ar to the ones e:perienced by the 0oyna dam and resu,t in its +ai,ure1 The seismic co2e++icient o+ !1 $4- used +or the desi-n o+ the dam is unsa+e because o+ the ,ocation o+ the dam in the ri+t 6one on a seismic hi-h/ay1 The o,d concept o+ a seismic desi-n used by civi, and structura, en-ineers +or major structures has

been shattered by the +ai,ures o+ major structures under 0obe earth;ua7e o+ Eapan1 Since there are major dams upstream o+ Sardar Sarovar. the +ai,ure o+ one or more o+ these dams durintorrentia, cyc,onic rains may cause e:treme +,oods at Sardar Sarovar /hen the dam may co,,apse. thereby un,eashin- e:tensive pea7 +,oods that /i,, cause a major disaster +or mi,,ions o+ peop,e and industries in the e:tensive re-ion covered by >aroda and >haruch districts1 Severa, dams /ere unscienti+ica,,y desi-ned by the en-ineers o+ Gujarat and the Centra, Government and some o+ them inc,udin- Machchu2)) dam +ai,ed because the en-ineers +ai,ed to visua,i6e that the hi-hest observed +,oods cou,d be more than the spi,,/ay desi-n +,ood used by them1 There is no -uarantee that the Sardar Sarovar dam has been scienti+ica,,y desi-ned by usin- pea7 ma:imum +,ood ,i7e,y to be e:perienced under the /orst meteoro,o-ica, conditions in+,uenced by the increasin- -,oba, /armin- e++ects and hence Sardar Sarovar dam may +ai, due to e:treme +,ood events a,so1 <ence +urther increase in the hei-ht o+ the dam shou,d be immediate,y stopped and +resh Dnvironmenta, )mpact Assessment (D)A& report must be prepared as envisa-ed by the Supreme Court by ta7in- into consideration the ,atest seismo,o-ica, chan-es caused by the >huj earth;ua7e and the Mumbai +,ood havoc o+ Eu,y $!!4 caused by the crucia, /eather events due to the -,oba, /armin- e++ects1 )n the a,ternative the hydro2po/er sou-ht to be -enerated by this project must be produced by usin- a,ternate ener-y sources ,i7e coa,. oi, and natura, -as1 The irri-ation /ater supp,y + or 0heda district must be provided by the Sardar Sarovar cana, and the Mahi river /ater +rom 0adana dam thus saved must be supp,ied to Rajasthan by ta7in- up a ,in7 cana, so that e:tensive up,and areas o+ (orth Dastern Gujarat districts may -et the bene+it o+ substantia, drin7in- and irri-ation /ater supp,ies1 )n the do/nstream o+ the dam there are a number o+ to/ns and cities and severa, vi,,a-es /hich mi-ht be a++ected in case the proposed dam bursts due to a ma:imum credib,e accident caused by +,oods. earth ;ua7es and other causes1 <ence a pre,iminary dam. brea7 ana,ysis has been carried out to create pub,ic a/areness on the project and its environmenta, impacts1 so that the socia, /or7ers and inte,,ectua,s a,on- /ith the industria,ists in the >haruch and 'adodara districts can come +or/ard to -rasp the basic + act that /hi,e the e:istin- pea7 +,oods are a,ready causinunto,d pub,ic misery and industria, dama-e at an enormous cost the additiona, incrementa, increase o+ the pea7 +,oods /i,, be severa, times hi-her /ith the resu,t that mi,,ions o+ peop,e in the do/nstream districts o+ Sardar Sarovar dam /i,, be /ashed a/ay into the Arabian sea i+ the dam /ere to burst durin- the ni-ht hours in the pea7 rainy season /hen there cou,d be torrentia, rains due to cyc,onic /eather conditions that persist +or a considerab,e ,en-th o+ time as had happened in Mumbai +,ood havoc o+ Eu,y $!!41

SDCDCTDD OBTPBT DATA O( )(B(DAT)O( DO=(STRDAM O@ SARDAR SARO'AR DBD TO A <HPOT<DT)CAC DAM >RDA0 CABSDD >H A MAS)MBM CRDD)>CD ACC)DD(T

Distance o+ stations +rom dam (0m& !!! !14"F $!1$#! 3!155 %!1 !$ 4!1$ F!1!"5 5!14"4 "!14 % #!134F !!1 % !1$$! $!143! 3!14$" Re'ett"e$ent Intr #u(ti n

Ma:1 D,evation o+ +,ood (m& 4"14% 4$1"% %"1 3 %31 # 3#1!5 3%133 3!1!% $51!% $%1## $31 # $ 1%F #1FF 51#$ 41#%

Ma:1 +,ood +,o/ (cusecs& 34!"3" 3$4F45 3 444! 3!4%$ $"" 54 $5! %" $44!5F $35% F $$!5%" $!4%3" #!F%! 53#34 %#555 $4!$5

<ours +or Ma: +,ood to reach station $1$54 $1#4! 3154! 41!54 F1%!! "1 !! !14!! 31$!! 41%54 514!! #1 ! $!15! $$13! $31#!

Ma: ve,ocity (mNs&

!1%! 51%F 41"% 413% %1F# %1$% 31 3 $1%! $1 ! 1#! 154 14# 14 1F3

To document the dup,icity o+ SSP authorities at both the state and centra, ,eve,s it is necessary to ana,yse in detai, the resett,ement p,annin- and imp,ementation process over a +orty year period1 One issue is pu,,ed out +or separ ate ana,ysis1 That describes the ,en-ths to /hich the Government o+ Gujarat /ent to discoura-e resett,ers +rom Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh +rom resett,in/ithin the SSP command area Q an option that /as re;uired by the Tribuna, to spread irri-ation bene+its beyond Gujarat1 "verview# The #F!s )n Apri, #F Prime Minister (ehru ,aid the +oundation stone +or the Sardar Sarovar Dam1 Resett,ement be-an that year /ith the eviction o+ vi,,a-ers +rom /hat became the 0evardia construction community adjacent to the dam site even thou-h the three states had yet to a-ree on ho/ to share the (armada?s /ater resources1 0evardia /as care+u,,y desi-ned +or the bene+it o+ those overseein- project imp,ementation /ith ,itt,e attention paid to ho/ current residents mi-ht bene+it or to the contribution that the construction co,ony mi-ht ma7e to the +uture re-iona, deve,opment o+ the surroundin- area1 As /ith others resett,ed be+ore the May #"4 =or,d >an7 SSP a-reement /ith the -overnments o+ )ndia and the three states. a,, those invo,ved /er e to receive. retroactive,y. the same bene+its as those re,ocated a+ter May #"41 )n ##3. /hen the remainder o+ the =or,d >an7 SSP ,oan /as cance,,ed. such bene+its had yet to be received1 Dependin- on de+initions. si: to ei-ht vi,,a-es /ere disp,aced1 (umber o+ +ami,ies invo,ved is un7no/n1 >ased on the Cand Ac;uisition Act o+ "#%. po,icies +or ac;uirin- ,and not on,y /ere

restricted to cash compensation. but provided such compensation on,y to those /ith ,e-a, tit,e to o++icia, revenue ,ands1 That e:c,uded those cu,tivatin- +ie,ds in -overnment dec,ared +orests or /aste,ands re-ard,ess o+ ho/ ,on- such ,and had been under cu,tivation and re-ard,ess o+ /hether or not it had been previous,y cu,tivated under customary tenure1 A,so e:c,uded /ere a,, +ami,ies and their heirs that had joint use under customar y tenure arran-ements o+ ,e-a, ,and that the -overnment had ,isted under on,y one name1 Accordin- to the t/o (GOs /or7in- in the area in the #"!s Q ARC<2'ahini and the Rajpip,a Socia, Services Society Q such joint tenancies o+ten invo,ved three or more +ami,ies /hose /e,+are depended on continued use1 Resett,ement p,aced most at ris7 since -overnment2reco-ni6ed o/ners cou,d no/ terminate the ri-hts o+ the other +ami,ies that had been reco-ni6ed under customary ,a/1 Since some individua,s did just that. this aspect o+ o++icia, resett,ement po,icy not on,y increased resett,er poverty. but a,so created enmity bet/een +ather and sons. brothers. and other 7in /ho +ormer,y had /or7ed to-ether as joint users1 )n+ormed by Gujarat o++icia,s those F4 revenue ,andho,ders and $! ,and,ess +ami,ies /ere disp,aced. the )ndependent Revie/ estimated that #4! individua,s /ou,d have under-one compu,sory resett,ement in the ear,y #F!s1 Cand,ess +ami,ies /ou,d have received no compensation even thou-h their /e,+are mi-ht have depended on the sharecroppinor ,oan o+ the more than 4! per cent o+ vi,,a-e ,ands that /ere ac;uired by the project1 As +or those /ho received at ,east some compensation. /hat evidence is avai,ab,e Q and there is no re,iab,e counter evidence +rom -overnment sources Q is that it /as insu++icient to ac;uire e;uiva,ent ,ands1 Thou-h ) did not have time to ,oo7 into the situation in detai, in the #"!s. /hat ) did ,earn caused me to /rite in a noteboo7 in #"% that in -enera, those /ho received compensation /ere miserab,e and those /ho did not /ere even more miserab,e1 (ine years ,ater the )ndependent Revie/ noted that the -over nment o+ Gujarat continued to i-nore the p,i-ht o+ those invo,ved1 The #5!s As +ar as resett,ement is concerned the main event o+ the #5!s /as the re,ease o+ the Tribuna,?s Report in #5#1 Thou-h its provisions advanced )ndia?s resett,ement po,icy. they a,so had major ,imitations1 The advances re,ated primari,y to + ami,ies +rom Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra /ho ,ost to the project $4 per cent or more o+ the ,and to /hich they had ,e-a, tit,e1 So as to spread the irri-ation bene+its o+ the SSP more /ide,y. each such +ami,y. as /e,, as their major sons /ho /ere " years o+ a-e or o,der. had the option to resett,e in Gujarat on t/o hectares o+ irri-ab,e ,and /ithin the SSP command area1

That ,and2+or2,and re;uirement /as a major advance on previous po,icies based primari,y on cash compensation1 Cand,ess +ami,ies had the same option o+ resett,in- /ithin the SSP command area. a,thou-h the on,y ,and they /ou,d be entit,ed to /ou,d be a house p,ot1 Simi,ar conditions /ere to app,y i+ resett,ers opted to remain in their home state1 As /ith those -oin- to Gujarat. the Tribuna, a,so stipu,ated as a -uidin- princip,e that a,, resett,ers shou,d be moved in socia, units o+ their o/n choice. /ith ne/ communities to be provided /ith potab,e /ater. roads. schoo,s and other socia, in+rastructure1 As +or major /ea7nesses. resett,ers +rom Gujarat /ere i-nored as /ere those in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra /ho /ere ,and,ess or cu,tivators on -overnment ,ands ca,,ed Tencroachers.? the ,atter /ere considered as ,and,ess peop,e even thou-h they may have been cu,tivatin- the ,and invo,ved +or many years and thou-h it may have been ,and over /hich they +ormer,y had had customary tenure1 @urthermore. even the best +eatures o+ the Tribuna,?s provisions mi-ht be re,ative,y meanin-,ess. since the -,oba, e:perience /ith resett,ement su--ested that the ,ar-e majority o+ MP and Maharashtra resett,ers /ou,d /ish to remain /ithin their home states1 That proved to be the case in both states so ,on- as peop,e had an option1 )n Madhya Pradesh "F percent o+ potentia, oustees Pthe )ndian term +or r esett,ersU stated a pre+erence to re,ocate /ithin 4! 7m o+ their current homes . /ith 4% percent pre+errinresett,ement /ithin $! 7i,ometers o+ their vi,,a-e 1 )n Maharashtra $F o+ the 3F vi,,a-es pre+erred ,oca, resett,ement1 A year ,ater the Government o+ Gujarat passed a reso,ution that provided simi,ar bene+its to ,e-a, o/ners o+ ,and in their o/n # vi,,a-es /ith the e:ception that it /as not stipu,ated that the t/o hectares o+ irri-ab,e ,and /ou,d be /ithin the SSP command area1 That omission provided project authorities /ith a ,oop ho,e that they subse;uent,y used to avoid the t/o hectare re;uirement and the need to provide community in+rastructur e1 0no/in- that the vi,,a-ers had a stron- pre+erence to re,ocate no +urther than $4 7i,ometres +rom their current homes so as to remain /ithin vi,,a-e c,usters that /ere ,in7ed to-ether by marria-e net/or7s. the authorities o++ered ,and at a -reater distance Q !! 7m in one case and $$! 7m in another1 As stated in my

#"3 report. That such ,and /as o++ered at a,, su--ests. at best. insensitivity to the pre+erences o+ oustees and. at /orst. a conscious attempt on the part o+ o++icia,s to intentiona,,y reduce the number o+ oustees see7in- rehabi,itation in -overnment provided centres (such centres not on,y re;uire -overnment to provide b,oc7s o+ ,and. but they a,so re;uire more time and +inance to imp,ement& 1 =hen resett,ers re+used to move to such distant ,ands amon- un+ami,iar peop,e. they /ere -iven cash compensation instead1 Thou-h some he,p /as provided in +indin- ,and. /ith a +e/ e:ceptions. insu++icient ,and /as ac;uired to a,,o/ peop,e in resett,e in socia, units o+ their choice1 Moreover. cash compensation /as based on the assessed va,ue o+ the ,and rather than on its rep,acement va,ue1 )n an in+,ationary ,and mar7et. monies received /ere se,dom su++icient +or purchasin- e;uiva,ent ,and1 As +or the ,and,ess and Tencroachers.? they /ere i-nored under the #5# reso,ution1 The number o+ vi,,a-es that /ou,d receive drin7in- /ater /as 6ero in #5#. %.5 # in the ear,y ei-hties. 5.$3% in ##! and ".$ 4 in ## 1 =hen cha,,en-ed. the Government admitted that these +i-ures +or ## inc,uded $3F uninha$ited vi,,a-esV Dvery aspect o+ the project is approached in this a,most cava,ier manner. as i+ it*s a +ami,y board -ame1 Dven /hen it concerns the ,ives and +utures o+ vast numbers o+ peop,e1 )n #5# the number o+ +ami,ies that /ou,d be disp,aced by the Sardar Sarovar reservoir /as estimated to be a ,itt,e over F.!!!1 )n #"5 it -re/ to $.!!!1 )n ## it sur-ed to $5.!!!1 )n ##$ the Government dec,ared that %!.!!! +ami,ies /ou,d be a++ected1 Today. it hovers bet/een %!.!!! and % .4!!1 (O+ course. even this is an absurd +i-ure. because the reservoir isn*t the on,y thin- that disp,aces peop,e1 Accordin- to the (>A the actua, +i-ure is "4.!!! +ami,ies 2 about ha,+ a mi,,ion peop,e1& The estimated cost o+ the project bounced up +rom Rs1F.!!! crores to Rs1$!.!!! crores (o++icia,,y&1 The (>A says that it /i,, cost Rs1%!.!!! crores1 ( %alf the entire irri-ation bud-et o+ the /ho,e country over the ,ast fifty years 1& The Government c,aims the Sardar Sarovar Projects /i,, produce %4! Me-a =atts o+ po/er1 The thin- about mu,ti2purpose dams ,i7e the Sardar Sarovar is that their *purposes* (irri-ation. po/er production and +,ood2contro,& con+,ict /ith each other1 )rri-ation uses up the /ater you need to produce po/er1 @,ood contro, re;uires you to 7eep the reservoir empty durin- the monsoon months to dea, /ith an anticipated sur+eit o+ /ater1 And i+ there*s no sur+eit. you*re ,e+t /ith an empty dam1 And this de+eats the purpose o+ irri-ation. /hich is to store the monsoon /ater1 )t*s ,i7e the ridd,e o+ tryin- to +ord a river /ith a +o:. a chic7en and a ba- o+ -rain1 The resu,t o+ these mutua,,y con+,ictin- aims. studies say. is that /hen the Sardar Sarovar Projects are comp,eted. and the scheme is +u,,y +unctiona,. it /i,, end up producin- on,y 3 per cent o+ the po/er that its p,anners say it /i,,1 4! Me-a =atts 1 T8e Sar#ar Sar )ar Da$ a' Unet8i(a" De)e" %$ent

Deve,opment is supposed to be bene+icia,1 )t is supposed to be the creation o+ a better ,i+e1 =ithin the conte:t o+ a nation. the state is supposed to be committed to the deve,opment o+ the peop,e as a /ho,e1 )t has a responsibi,ity to ensure an e;uitab,e distribution o+ the costs and bene+its o+ deve,opment projects. especia,,y /hen they are state projects1 Het the potentia, bene+its o+ the creation o+ the Sardar Sarovar Dam are to accrue to a better2o++ se-ment o+ )ndian society2those /ho can a++ord e,ectricity and those /ho ho,d ,and in Gujarat or Rajasthan /hich /ou,d become proper,y irri-ated as a resu,t o+ the deve,opment project1 )n turn. the costs are ,ar-e,y bein- born by an a,ready disadvanta-ed se-ment o+ society2 Schedu,ed Castes and Schedu,ed Tribes1 Many members o+ these -roups do not have +orma, tit,e to their ,ands and there+ore ,itt,e recourse to mainstream ,e-a, channe,s /hen it comes to compensation1 This ,eaves the vast majority o+ disp,aced peop,e /ith practica,,y no bar-ainin- po/er over their +ate1 A,thou-h there are provisions to resett,e and rehabi,itate at ,east some o+ the peop,e /ho /i,, be disp,aced a' a resu,t o+ the Sardar Sarovar Dam. r esett,ement sti,, -enera,,y means a drop in the ;ua,ity o+ ,ivin-1(An e:ception are those r esett,ed in the Mmode,M sites /hich proponents o+ the dam project have toppin- the tour ,ist1& The resett,ement and rehabi,itation project. /hich is supposed to be a Mdeve,opment opportunity.M is. in actua, +act. underminin- the economic ,ive,ihoods and ;ua,ity o+ ,i+e o+ these peop,e1 Over the ,on- term. this mi-ht even mean +urther disp,acement as essentia, needs are not met1 As such. resett,ement is not improvin- the standard o+ ,ivin- as de+ined by the disp,aced peop,e themse,ves1 )n addition. there are a,, those /ho. thou-h harmed in various /ays by the dam project. are not receivin- even the inade;uate compensation o+ rehabi,itation. because they ho,d no +orma, tit,e to the ,and or /aters that they use +or economic ,ive,ihood purposes1 The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a case o+ a deve,opment project /hich is both direct,y and indirect,y causin- a massive amount o+ environmenta, disp,acement1 This disp,acement is not ,imited to the present1 Rather. the e++ects o+ both the dam project and its accompanyin- resett,ement and rehabi,itation project are settin- the sta-e +or +urther disp,acement by increasin- peop,e*s economic vu,nerabi,ity1 Those /ho must bear the majority o+ the deve,opment costs in this project /ere neither proper,y consu,ted. nor compensated in /ays acceptab,e to them1 Moreover. the Sardar Sarovar Dam is deve,opment on the bac7s o+ the poor. as the peop,e bein- disp,aced are amon-st )ndia*s most vu,nerab,e and disadvanta-ed social -roups1 @or these reasons 6the Sardar Sarovar Dam project cannot be considered to be ethica, deve,opment1

RD@DRD(CDS The Sardar Sarovar Dam Project /ebsite2 ///1sardarsarovardam1orSSCAC*s /ebsite2 ///1sscac1-ov1in ///1/i7ipedia1orBRC2 http:NNen1/i7ipedia1or-N/i7iNSardarWSarovarWDam ///1narmada1orBRC2 ///1narmada1or-Nsardarsarovar1htm ///1narmada1or-ND('Ninde:1htm, ///1supportnarmadadam1orBRC2 ///1supportnarmadadam1or-Nsardar 2sarovar2bene+its1htm Goo-,e )ma-es2 http:NN///1-oo-,e1co1inNim-hpRh,TenKtabT/i T<arvard <uman Ri-hts Eourna,? N 'o,1 # (SARDAR SARO'AR: A( DSPDR)D(CD RDTA)(DD& TThe Sardar Sarovar Dam Project: An Overvie/? by Phi,ippe Cu,,et TThe Greater Common Good?. an artic,e by Arundhati Roy TA (armada Diar y?. a +i,m by Anand Pat/ardhan TA Dama-in- Report?. an artic,e in The <indu (Chennai edition8 dated 3 2!%2$! !&