Sardar Sarovar Dam controversy

Forces of progress carry
the day, march on

As the date for Supreme Court hearing on the issue of raising the height of Narmada Dam drew near, the NBA activists, Ms Medha Patkar, who had willing supporters in the persons of well-known writer, Ms Arundhati Roy and some others — even Shri V.P. Singh graced the occasion – went in for an indefinite hunger strike for her cause in the hope that under pressure from her Left supporters either the Manmohan government will give in or the SC will hand out a verdict that will blast her off to greater heights of popularity. Initially, the Manmohan Government fumbled, as usual. At one time it looked as if the Government was close to “appeasing social entrepreneurs and rent-a-quote crowd in the civil society”, in the words of a daily newspaper, when Water Resources Minister on April 15 promised to the NBA activists that the dam construction would be stalled. But Gujarat CM Shri Narendra Modi moved fast. An all-party delegation of MPs from Gujarat led by Shri Arun Jaitley, BJP General Secretary, waited upon the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to protest against this campaign against the interests of Gujarat and its development. The Congress MPs too joined this delegation. Ultimately, Manmohan Government took a U-turn and told the delegation that no proposal to stop construction work on the dam was under government consideration. Shri Modi was piqued at the developments. A person who had dedicated himself entirely to the development of the State and taken it to the top, could not sit idle. He also acted promptly and went on a 51-hour fast at Ahmedabad on April 16 in support of the raising of the height of dam as already decided and allowing the construction to go on although, at the same time, he announced acceleration of the rehabilitation process of dam oustees. On April 17, the Supreme Court directions brought smiles of satisfaction on the faces of Gujarat Chief Minister and those yearning for State’s development and made the NBA activists, who were already at the receiving end for their stand in the country, gloomy faced. Ms. Patkar stood exposed as a person who was standing in the way of the State’s rapid development by playing into the hands of some unscrupulous, some even foreign, entities who supported her financially too. An embarrassed and disappointed Ms. Patkar and Ms. Arundhati Roy spewed venom against the Manmohan Government and declared: ”A new era of agitations would start now”. After all what else could the great ‘crusader’ say?

After the meeting of the Review Committee of NCA Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi on April 15 stated that the meeting of the review committee remained inconclusive since the resolutions moved by Governments of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh which were in favour of solving the problems of PAFs, if any, through the mechanism set up by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in their order dated 18th October 2000 and the resolutions moved by other members of the RCNCA led by Union Water Resource Minister to stall the work of the dam met with a tie of three versus three in voting. The Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that the line taken by Government of India and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was anti-development. when an autonomous body like NCA has decided to allow the raising of the height after following due process prescribed by the Supreme Court, the Central Government has now tried to put hurdles in the path of Sardar Sarovar Project which is not acceptable to the people of the affected States.

Shri Modi alleged that the Government of India had already given a promise to the activists of NBA to stall the project which is against the spirit of Supreme Court judgment. After the decision of NCA on 8.3.2006, the Minister of Water Resources, Shri Saifudin Soz had given a statement in Parliament on 11.3.2006 that the decision of NCA is premature which indicated that Government of India had premeditated this move.

The Chief Minister pointed out that this is a project of national importance in which the concerned States have already put in investment of Rs.2100 crore in the last about sixteen years. if the dam height is not allowed to be raised up to 121.92 meters, the country will lose 1450 MW of power and the water will not reach 4000 thirsty villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan for drinking as well as for irrigation. as against this, even if there are genuine problems of PAFs, the same can easily be solved since there is enough time available between now and June. Stalling the project will mean enormous economic loss to the country.

Talking about the rehabilitation process the Chief Minister pointed out that the institutional mechanism for solving the problem includes the grievance redressal authority in each of the affected States which are headed by retired High Court or Supreme Court judges. GRA is also authorized to give directions to the State. No such direction of GRA is remaining unattended so far. In such a case it is unfortunate for the Government of India to succumb to the pressure from NBA to stall the height of the dam and stop development.

RESOLUTIONS TO BE PASSED AT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE OF NARMADA CONTROL AUTHORITY MEETING TO BE HELD ON 15TH APRIL 2006

Resolution no. 1 moved by Chief Minister of Gujarat in the 13th Meeting of Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority.

RESOLUTION:

The Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority reviewed the decision taken by Narmada Control Authority in its 68th meting held on 8th March 2006. After perusing relevant material on record as well as details of the representations received, Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority hereby endorses the decision taken by the 68th meeting of Narmada Control Authority granting permission to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam from 110.64 Meters to 121.92 Meters.

Resolution no. 2 moved by Chief Minister of Rajasthan in the 13th Meeting of Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority.

RESOLUTION:

The Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority was apprised of the details of grievances received by Group of Ministers from Government of India who visited Madhya Pradesh. The RCNCA notes with regret that these grievances related to Rehabilitation and Resettlement have not been forwarded to Grievance Redressal Authority (GRA) specifically set up for the purpose. The Review Committee is concerned that the established mechanism set up for redressal of grievances of Project Affected Families in this regard has not been adhered to. The Review Committee hereby resolves that any grievances received by Government of India should be sent to GRA for redressal as per the established mechanism set by Hon’ble Supreme Court.

Resolution no. 3 moved by Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in the 13th Meeting of Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority.

RESOLUTION:

The Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority noted with satisfaction the progress made in installation of Hydro Power capacity at Sardar Sarovar Project. The Member States concerned noted it with satisfaction that full capacity for hydro power of 1450 MW would be ready and available from this monsoon. The Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority therefore resolves that all concerned parties should give due priority to completion of Sardar Sarovar Project so that all participating States could contribute in enhancing the growth rate of the country. The Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority also resolves to recommend that the procedure and norms laid down by the Award of Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT Award) as well as guidelines of Hon’ble Supreme Court with regard to rehabilitation and resettlement, including redressal of grievances, should be adhered to so as to ensure that each and every Project Affected Family is taken care of in accordance with the policy of Rehabilitation & Resettlement as applicable in each case.