Narmada Bachao Andolan vs. Union of India - International ...

175. When compared to other similar major projects, the Sardar Sarovar Project has the least ratio of submergenceto the area benefited (1.98 percent only). The ratio of some of the existing schemes is as much as 25 percent as canbe seen from the table below:Sr. Name of project State Benefit Submergence Irrigation Percentage ofNo. area (in ha) area (in ha) benefit per ha area submergedsubmergence to area irrigated1. Hirakud Orissa 2,51,150 73,892 3.40 29.422. Shriramsagar Andhra Pradesh 2,30,679 44,517 5.24 19.143. Gandhisagar Madhya Pradesh 5,03,200 66,186 7.60 13.154. Paithan Maharashtra 2,78,000 35,000 7.94 15.295. Tungbhadra Karnataka 3,72,000 37,814 9.84 10.166. Pench Maharashtra 34,000 7,750 12.13 8.247. Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh 8,95,000 28,500 31.40 3.188. Bhakra Himachal Pradesh 6,76,000 16,800 40.24 2.489. Sardar Sarovar Gujarat 19,03,500 37,533 50.71 1.97176. Countering the assertion that the construction of the dam would result in large scale relocation and uprootingof tribals, the factual position seems to be that the tribals constitute the bulk of PAFs in Gujarat and Maharashtra,namely, 97 percent and 100 percent respectively. In the case of Madhya Pradesh, the tribals PAFs are only 30percent while 70 percent are non-tribals.177. The tribals who are affected are in indigent circumstances and who have been deprived of the modern fruitsof development such as tap water, education, road, electricity, convenient medical facilities, etc. The majority ofthe project affected families are involved in rain-fed agricultural activities for their own sustenance. There ispartial employment in forestry sector. Since the area is hilly with difficult terrain, they are wholly dependent onvagaries of monsoon and normally only a single crop is raised by them. Out of the PAFs of Madhya Pradesh whohave re-settled in Gujarat, more than 70 percent are tribal families. Majority of the total tribal PAFs are stated tohave already been re-settled in Gujarat after having exercised their option. It is the contention of the State ofGujarat that the tribals in large number have responded positively to the resettlement package offered by that state.178. In Madhya Pradesh, the agricultural lands of the tribal villages are affected on an average to the extent of 28percent whereas in the upper reaches i.e. Nimad where the agriculture is advanced, the extent of submergence, onan average, is only 8.5 percent. The surveys conducted by HMS Gaur University (Sagar), the Monitoring andEvaluation Agency set up by Government of Madhya Pradesh, reveals that the major resistance to relocation isfrom the richer, non-tribal families of Nimad who fear shortage of agricultural labour if the landless labourersfrom the areas accept resettlement.179. The displacement of the people due to major river valley projects has occurred in both developed and developingcountries. In the past, there was no definite policy for rehabilitation of displaced persons associated with the rivervalley projects in India. There were certain project specific programmes for implementation on temporary basis.For the land acquired, compensation under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 used to be given to theproject affected families. This payment in cash did not result in satisfactory resettlement of the displaced families.Realising the difficulties of displaced persons, the requirement of relief and rehabilitation of PAFs in the case ofSardar Sarovar Project was considered by the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal and the decision and final orderof the Tribunal given in 1979 contains detailed directions in regard to acquisition of land and properties, provisionof land, house plots and civic amenities for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected families. Theresettlement policy has thus emerged and developed along with Sardar Sarovar Project.37