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Anti‐Dam Protests in India: Examining the Profile of the Sardar Sarovar Dam

2018; Wiley; Volume: 4; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.18278/nwpp.4.2.5

2380-6540

Amit Ranjan,

Water Governance and Infrastructure

Abstract Almost all protests against large dams in India have failed to stop the construction of the respective projects. The latest one is protest against the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Ignoring the demands of the protestors, the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam has been increased, and in 2017, finally, the 138.68 m high dam was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam has caused submergence of a large area of land and has displaced many people in the Narmada basin. Due to the impact on local communities, the Narmada Bachao Andolan has been leading peaceful protest against the Sardar Sarovar Dam since the 1980s. In addition to the debates on construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam is the issue of resettlement and rehabilitation of the people and families affected by it. Protestors and activists allege that the people and families affected have not been properly compensated, resettled, and rehabilitated by the government. This paper critically examines the evolution of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the impact it has on the people and land in its command area, and the history of protest and activism relating to the dam.