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Narmada Bachao Andolan
Narmada Bachao Andolan
farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against the construction of a number
of large dams under the Narmada Dam Project across river Narmada.
Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat is one of the biggest dams on the Narmada river and was one of
the first focal points of the Save the Narmada Movement. SSD is a part of the Narmada Dam
Project that aims to provide irrigation and electricity to people of the above states. Candidates
can know in detail about the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the link provided here.
The proposed Sardar Sarovar Dam and Narmada Sagar were to displace more than
250,000 people. The big fight of the Save the Narmada Movement was over the
resettlement or the rehabilitation of these people.
Aspirants can go through the following relevant links to prepare for the upcoming
Civil Services Exams even better –
National Mission for Clean Ganga National Ganga Council Ganga Action Plan – (GAP)
Definition, Objectives and CAMPA List of Major Dams in India List of Hydroelectric Power Plants
Fund in India
Koyna Dam The Major Indian River Systems West Flowing Rivers of Peninsular
India
Dam Rehabilitation and Tipaimukh Project – Dam Project Important cities and rivers UPSC
Improvement Project on Barak River
National Green Tribunal List of World Longest Rivers National Water Informatics Centre
(NWIC)
In 1985, the World Bank agreed to finance the Sardar Sarovar Dam with a contribution of
$450 million without consulting the indigenous communities that were to be displaced.
Medha Patkar and other protesters testified on the Bank’s role in Washington D.C in
1989. This led to a build-up of pressure on the Bank to set an independent review to
assess the situation at hand. A lot of support was withdrawn from the project after this.
World Bank, the financing agency for this project, announced it would institute an
Independent Review of the Narmada Dam Project.
The Morse Commission was established to look into the construction of the dam, and the
environmental cost and human displacement in 1991. Their report clearly stated that the
Bank’s policies on environment and resettlement were being violated.
The World Bank’s participation in these projects was cancelled in 1993.
NBA – Formation
1. The leading spokesperson of Narmada Bachao Andolan was Medha Patkar
and Baba Amte who received the Right Livelihood Award in 1991.
2. The mode of the campaign under NBA includes court actions, hunger strikes,
rallies, and gathering support from notable film and art personalities.
3. Narmada Bachao Andolan was also joined by several NGOs with local
people, professionals, and activists as the founders with a non-violent
approach.
4. There were many groups supporting NBA such as Gujarat-based Narmada
Asargrastha Samiti, Madhya Pradesh-based Narmada Ghati Nav Nirman
Samiti (Committee for a New Life in the Narmada Valley) and Maharashtra-
Based Narmada Dharangrastha Samiti (Committee for Narmada Dam-
Affected People).
5. NBA’s slogans include – Vikas Chahiye, Vinash Nahin! (Development wanted,
not destruction) and “koi nahi hatega, bandh nahi banega!” (we won’t move,
the dam won’t be constructed).