Narmada Bachao Andolan !!

Narmada Bachao Andolan is the most powerful mass movement started in 1985 against the construction of huge dam on the Narmada River. The proposed Sardar Sarovar Dam will displace more than 250000 people. The big fight is over the resettlement of these people.. The movement soon took the shape of an NGO that brought together the tribal, the farmers, the environmental activists and the human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Initially, the focus of the movement was on saving the trees and the forest that  would be submerged under the water, if the dam would be constructed. Recently, it  included a focus on the issue of rehabilitation of the poor people living around the area and this to be facilitated by the government

The government and the authorities have their own interest  in the project. This multi-core project will generate considerable revenue for the government. The project is expected to produce  1450 mega watts of electricity as well as supply pure drinking water to millions of people.

The protests do not seem to have achieved much. The construction of the some of these dams such as the Tawa Dam and the Bargi Dam are already complete.. Those protesting against further construction say that these construction will adversely affect the lives of human as well as the biodiversity  as  acres of agricultural as well as forests land will be taken away. Also it will displace thousands of people from their livelihood.  These activists have been demanding that the government look at alternative means to meet the water and energy needs that are also ecologically beneficial or at least, do not harm the ecology.

Led by Medha Parker, NBA has now been turned into international protest gaining support from NGO’s all around the globe. There is large scale protest in media , hunger strikes, mass protest marches , rallies etc . The NBA movement has been pressurizing the World Bank to withdraw its loan from the project.  Famous celebrity like Amir Khan made open support to the cause of NBA. The intensity of the movement has in fact thrown light on other similar issues as well.

In 1984, the supreme Court gave orders to stop the dam construction.